Obama Orders New Sanctions on Iran

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　　In an executive order released Monday, the president said other factors for imposing³ the new restrictions⁴ include deficiencies in Iran's anti-money laundering⁵ regime, and the "continuing and unacceptable risk" that Iran's activities pose to the international financial system.

　　The order freezes assets in U.S. control.

　　The United States and European Union have tightened⁶ economic sanctions on the Iranian central bank and oil industry in recent weeks to pressure Iran to stop uranium enrichment -- a process that has military and civilian⁷ applications.

　　Iran recently said it started enriching uranium at its underground Fordo complex, which has the capacity to speed up the production of weapons-grade material.

　　Israel is reported to be increasingly anxious about Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program and at least one U.S. official is reported to be warning that an Israeli attack is not far off.

　　Iranian officials deny any intention to build nuclear weapons, and Supreme⁸ Leader Ali Khamenei warned last week that Iran will retaliate⁹ in full force if its nuclear facilities are attacked.

　　Western reports say Iranians are reeling under the continuing effects of sanctions.

　　Faced with a dropping currency, Iranian officials are struggling to stabilize¹⁰ the rial, which has fallen recently on announcements of U.S. and European sanctions against Iran’s banking¹¹ capability¹² and oil exports.

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