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Journalism of Courage
The US has slapped new sanctions on Iran for the third time in a week,targeting the countrys already-devalued currency and automobile industry,as it pressured Tehran to abandon its nuclear programme.
This is the first time the US has directly targeted the Iranian currency as the sanctions include penalties on anyone facilitating significant transactions in the rial or holding significant amounts of the currency outside Iran.
The fresh actions,contained in an executive order effective July 1,were issued by President Barack Obama. This is the ninth set of sanctions that the Obama administration has imposed against Iran.
Last week,the US blacklisted companies in Irans petrochemical industry for the first time and issued sanctions against more than 50 Iranian officials for what it called their efforts to stifle political dissent in Iran.
This new action targets Irans currency,the rial,by authorising the imposition of sanctions on foreign financial institutions that knowingly conduct or facilitate significant transactions for the purchase or sale of the Iranian rial,or that maintain significant accounts outside Iran denominated in the Iranian rial, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Monday.
While the rial has lost half of its value since the beginning of 2012 as a result of our comprehensive sanctions,this is the first time that trade in the rial has been targeted directly for sanctions, he said.
The executive order also authorises the imposition of new sanctions against those who knowingly engage in significant financial or other transactions for the sale,supply,or transfer to Iran of significant goods or services used in connection with Irans automotive sector,one of the key employers and contributors to the countrys economy.
Similar sanctions were earlier imposed on Irans shipping,shipbuilding,and energy sectors.
Later addressing a meeting of the American Jewish Community Global Forum,Secretary of State John Kerry said America would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. The US will prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. It is not prevention. It is no weapon,no containment.
The West accuses Iran of covertly pursuing nuclear weapons programme,a charge denied by Tehran which says its atomic programme is for peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Iran N-reactor said damaged by quakes
Tehran: Several countries monitoring Irans nuclear programme have picked up information that the countrys only power-producing nuclear reactor was damaged by one or more of several recent earthquakes,with long cracks appearing in at least one section of the structure,two diplomats said Tuesday. Its Bushehr nuclear plant is not considered a proliferation threat. But some nations are concerned about how safe it is. Ap
