July 09, 2008	Wednesday	Rajab 5, 1429

WASHINGTON, July 8: The United States announced new sanctions on Tuesday over Iran’s nuclear energy programme, naming four individuals and four entities for their ties to Tehran’s nuclear and missile programmes.

The US Treasury announced the new measures as part of its effort to step up pressure on Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment activities.

“Iran’s nuclear and missile firms hide behind an array of agents that transact business on their behalf,” claimed Stuart Levey, the Treasury under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

“As long as Iran continues to engage in such deceptive practices, companies and banks must exercise extraordinary vigilance to avoid participating in illicit transactions.”—AFP