US announces new sanctions on Iran

US President Barack Obama has expanded sanctions against the Iranian government and its central bank, the White House announced Monday, Reported dpa. In an executive order signed Sunday, Obama froze all the assets and property in the United States of the Iranian government, financial institutions and the Central Bank of Iran. He pointed to "the deceptive practices of the Central Bank of Iran and other Iranian banks" as warranting additional sanctions. The US and the European Union have bolstered sanctions in recent weeks targeting Iran over its nuclear activities.