US steps up campaign against Iran with new sanctions
The Bush administration intensified its campaign against Iran with a new round of sanctions against its military and leading companies.
On Thursday, the U.S. designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction and its elite Quds Force a supporter of terrorism. Sanctions were also imposed on more than twenty firms and individuals. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced the move in Washington.
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson: “Iran exports its global financial ties to pursue nuclear capabilities to build ballistic missiles and fund terrorism. Today we are taking additional steps to combat Iran’s dangerous conduct and to engage financial institutions world wide to make the most informed decisions about those with whom they choose to do business. The Iranian regime’s ability to pursue nuclear and ballistic missile programs in defiance of Security Council resolutions depends on it’s access to international commercial and financial systems.”
Meanwhile Democratic lawmakers are questioning whether a nearly ninety-million dollar request to fit B-2 bombers with “bunker-buster†bombs is part of preparations for an attack on Iran. Many of Iran’s nuclear facilities are believed to be underground. The Bush administration’s official request says the bombs are required “in response to an urgent operational need from theater commanders.†It gave no further details.
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