US explores new ways to press Iran on nuke program

State Department’s nuclear negotiator with Tehran presents Congress with new range of options to deter Islamic Republic

US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman (photo credit: CC-BY/dbking/Flickr)
US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman (photo credit: CC-BY/dbking/Flickr)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration on Wednesday said it was looking at new ways to pressure Iran over its nuclear program.

The State Department’s nuclear negotiator with Iran, Wendy Sherman, and the Treasury Department’s sanctions chief, David Cohen, told Congress that the US is exploring different ways to press Tehran into making nuclear concessions.

These range from possible executive orders to military signals to US efforts to end the civil war in Syria, a key Iranian ally.

Their comments came as the Treasury Department on Wednesday added two Dubai-based companies to an American blacklist of firms accused of supporting Iran’s weapons proliferation activities.

The action bans Americans from doing business with Al Fida International General Trading or Al Hilal Exchange. Any assets held by those companies in the US are now blocked.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press

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