US welcomes new EU sanctions against Iran

The U.S. welcomed on Monday the EU adoption of new sanctions against the Iranian government, saying that Iran is “under more pressure than ever before.” White House Spokesman Jay Carney told reporters “the United States welcomes the adoption today by the European Union of significant new sanctions against the Iranian government in response to the Iranian government’s continued violation of its international obligations regarding its nuclear program,’’ reported the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA. He added that “this action, which includes additional sanctions in the financial, trade, energy and transport sectors, as well as additional designations on entities in the oil and gas industry, further strengthens international efforts to pressure and isolate the Iranian government for its continued refusal to comply with its international obligations and fully cooperate with the IAEA.” Carney noted that “rallying the world to isolate Iran and increase the pressure on its leadership so that they stop pursuing a nuclear weapon has been a top priority” for the U.S. President Barack Obama since the day he took office.