Iran Sanctions Escalate As Obama Administration Announces Measures Against Nation's Intel Agency

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is slapping sanctions on Iran's ministry of intelligence and security, asserting that it supports global terrorism, commits human rights abuses against Iranians and participates in ongoing repression in Syria.

The Treasury Department announced Thursday that it added the ministry to its list of specially designated global terrorists. The step freezes any assets the group may have in U.S. jurisdictions, bars Americans from doing business with it and bans ministry employees from travel to the United States. The effect of the sanctions will be largely symbolic as it is not known to have holdings in the U.S.

The announcement said the ministry had helped al-Qaida agents in Iran and provided then with identity cards and passports and had given money and weapons to al-Qaida in Iraq.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[s roka7]

03:03 AM on 02/17/2012

I would maintain that an Israeli assault in any form against Iran will fail. Not only will Israel not do substantial damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities (if it has any), it will not deter Iran’s will to resist Israel’s and the west’s demands that it renounce its program.

[Topdown1]

12:51 AM on 02/17/2012

The Military Industrial Complex needs another war. Best way to get enough public sentiment is through fear. No WMD's found in Iraq. Saddam Husain ousted and the US was still there for another 9 years or so. Things starting to wind down in Afgahnistan. So now into Iran. True they have no nukes just yet but we need to go in there, into another sovergin country, just in case. Russia has already stated that an attack on Iran will be considered by them to be the same as an atack on Russia itself.How many more times can the U.S. do this before WW III is trigered. Then after Iran will it be N Korea, Pakistan, or maybe a country to be named later?

[bjhmger]

12:41 AM on 02/17/2012

Headline sounded like it was a real sanction. More nonsense from our muslim leader. Isreal will deal with the Iranians. Obama has too many fund raisers to attend. Oil prices continue to rise. Higher gas prices will strangle our economy soon. Keep watching Jeremy Lin highlights Mr. O.

[juliet marilynne]

12:04 AM on 02/17/2012

notice how obama is trying negotiation and sanctions FIRST instead of a 'certain someone' making up wmd stories and just sending in the troops. just sayin'.................

[alwill]

11:59 PM on 02/16/2012

WOW--These new sanctions ought to really do the trick. If I were Iran, I would be shaking in my boots.

[King Nine]

11:25 PM on 02/16/2012

what,oh what, will obama's puppetmasters make him say next?

[PeachyQ]

11:17 PM on 02/16/2012

Yeah His gonna scare him by announcing that we are cutting our Military by 80%. That will scare them.

[chas52man]

11:16 PM on 02/16/2012

If all you obama lovers haven't figured it out yet, Your supposed president vetoed the Canadian pipeline, cost the U.S. jobs and actually aided one of our more powerful commie nations.
That oil that should be pumped to the U.S. is now being shipped by the Canadians to CHINA.
Real smart anti-American move by obama.
Yet, you dummies still follow the guy no matter how much he is eating away at this countries economy and military.

[aphidavis]

12:02 AM on 02/17/2012

Ditto! The libs will follow B.O. just like the pied piper.

[f1nesse101]

11:16 PM on 02/16/2012

Iranians want the Ayatollah, the mullahs and Ahmadinejad to be brought down, and a new secular government put in place. Iranians deserve their freedoms and liberty restored.

[chas52man]

11:08 PM on 02/16/2012

Too late for this guy to try and be presidential. He has made the office of president a laughing stock throughout the world and NO ONE takes him seriously. If not for a bid to get re-elected he'd still be kissing Muslim Butt.

[Iya Sapa Mato]

10:56 PM on 02/16/2012

I can hear his warnings! I ah , we will ah, the world will ah, I mean it is, You se we will ah, let me tell you ah , What the h... is with this tele-prompter? Michelleeee. I going golfing!

[harkone75]

10:54 PM on 02/16/2012

All the sanctions you can through at them will not change a thing except higher oil cost to the USA. They could care less about sanctions...someone will be there to help them. Talk is all they hear from the USA...I am sure they think it is all a bunch of un backed crowdedness from a big bully. The only solution to the problem is WAR...if we are not going to fight them...then leave them alone. We can't be the world police force on every issue that come up.

[lawa]

10:35 PM on 02/16/2012

the media and the average or above average citizen has no idea what the cia and pentagon are privvy to. the president has so much more things to deal with than anyone on earth. i know there are negative comments made about mr obama but you must know this is a man that can chew gum and walk at the same time. think about the time he oked and successfuly killed osama bin hidin while at a press thingy making fun of trump. man that is so cold willed. don'tworry folks stuff is happening and action will take place when its needed. can i ask you all to be critical thinkers and leave the shallow comments go?

[obamathegreat235]

09:05 PM on 02/16/2012

Well to all of you Obama haters and unAmerican traitors: Team Obama continues to do superb work for America and and the entire world.

VIENNA, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Iran, facing severe sanctions to bar it from exporting oil, has told world powers it wants to resume long-stalled talks quickly with "new initiatives" in hand, and France said Tehran may now be open to addressing concerns about its nuclear quest."

Xi Jinping: New Friend of the U.S.?"

TEAM OBAMA 2012!

[nickpasq]

10:13 PM on 02/16/2012

Yup. he is itching to start another war

[obamathegreat235]

10:20 PM on 02/16/2012

Yup. he is itching to start another war”"---Fool.

[lawa]

10:38 PM on 02/16/2012

nick my friend, there you go again. we've had discussions before,Mr Obama has the situation well in hand. well nick have a great rest of the day.

[jwyola]

08:55 PM on 02/16/2012

What..? We are going to call Iran nasty names while you prepare to Nuke Israel and the United States? Mr. Obama.. you have got Neville Chamberlain beat at the Gate, and Pulling away for the Win!