Obama Orders New Sanctions Against Iran’s Central Bank

- (Image Credit: Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
As tensions continue to rise over Tehran’s nuclear program, President Obama today announced new sanctions against Iran’s financial institutions, saying they have engaged in “deceptive practices.”
“I have determined that additional sanctions are warranted, particularly in light of the deceptive practices of the Central Bank of Iran and other Iranian banks to conceal transactions of sanctioned parties, the deficiencies in Iran’s anti-money laundering regime and the weaknesses in its implementation, and the continuing and unacceptable risk posed to the international financial system by Iran’s activities,” the president wrote in a letter to Congress.
The executive order states that all assets of the Iranian government and banks held in the United States are “blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn or otherwise dealt in.” The sanctions were included as an amendment to the defense authorization bill that Obama signed into law at the end of 2011.
The move comes amid speculation of a possible Israeli attack on Iran. On Sunday, Obama stressed that diplomacy was still the “preferred solution.”
“I don’t think that Israel has made a decision on what they need to do. I think they, like us, believe that Iran has to stand down on its nuclear weapons program,” Obama told NBC’s Matt Lauer. “We have mobilized the international community in a way that is unprecedented. And they are feeling the pinch, they’re feeling the pressure, but they have not taken the step that they need to, diplomatically, which is to say we will pursue peaceful nuclear power; we will not pursue a nuclear weapon. Until they do, I think Israel rightly is going to be very concerned, and we are as well.”

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Posted by: Common _ Sense | February 6, 2012, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
Now that is something I would like to tell the President thank you. Good Job sir.
Posted by: joe | February 6, 2012, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
Obama is clueless. Iranians dont care about sanctions thats obvious. The USA doesnt control the banks of the world either. We live in a global economy now. How much money does Iran keep in the USA? Not much I gather. As usual Obama is all talk.
Posted by: getreal2013 | February 6, 2012, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm
So, since you’ll know so much (common_sense & Joe) What the heck should he do. He’s doing exactly as he should be doing. Now if it was Bush or another Republican, we’d be readying for war as we write. So, I ask you two again, what the heck should he be doing????????
Posted by: Weezie | February 6, 2012, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
Barack Obama acts on orders from ARAMCO. The petroleum syndicate wants Iran to fall into line with cartel policy on the price for a barrel of oil. Obama is simply “ze gangsta” for Abu Dhabi.
Posted by: dustin83v | February 6, 2012, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm
Republicans are the CLUELESS people when it comes to foreign affairs and diplomacy. President Obama has PROVEN that he is MORE than capable of doing what is BEST when it comes to these other nations that are like a pile of agravating mosquitos. Obama all talk???? Not at all, ask OBL and his top 5 or 6 little helpers – Oh yeah, you can’t because they’re all DEAD!!!! There aren’t really too many arguments the right can make against President Obama without looking like liars, fools or just what they ARE – —– In DENIAL!!!
Posted by: demNme5 | February 6, 2012, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm
We let North Korea develop a bomb, why can’t Iran?
Posted by: bob | February 6, 2012, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
Funny how things happen in an election year. The mass have been asking him to do something and I guess his campain team told him he better. To late though we have awaken to his socialist agenda
Posted by: Jim Rod | February 6, 2012, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
I’d say that the reason that everyone is more concerned about Iran with a bomb is twofold. They are TOO close to Israel and their leaders are buffoons and idiots bent on starting a war while the leaders in N. Korea ARE idiots but they aren’t that big a threat to their neighbors at this time.
Posted by: demNme5 | February 6, 2012, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
“Obama all talk???? Not at all, ask OBL and his top 5 or 6 little helpers – Oh yeah, you can’t because they’re all DEAD!” And you give complete credit the President for that? Taking out Bin Laden was an action of opportunity, based on information obtained by means strenuously opposed by President and his other high-minded poltiical allies as “torture”. To imply, as does your rant, that a Republican president wouldn’t have taken the same action given the same intel shows just how clueless people like YOU are.
Posted by: MyTake | February 6, 2012, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
Some of you just won’t accept whatever this man does even when he proves time and time again how wrong you are. If he save you and your family from drowning, you would still complain. Stop with the nonsense already, it’s really tiring and shows your real reasons. He is our President whether you like it or not and that won’t change until the voters decide in November which most likely result in his re-election. Move on with your life and stop wasting precious energy on hate.
Posted by: jake | February 6, 2012, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
Actually the previous President did have an opportunity to take OBL out when they had him trapped in the mountains by US Delta forces. That President instead choose to give the job to some tribal chiefs with rusty rifles. Needless to say, the Delta forces were withdrawn, the chiefs got paid for doing exactly what many said…nothing, and OBL was able to safely leave the mountains. Thus the previous President was able to continue using the OBL fear card and keep America in constant fear. This President even against the advice of some, went in and took OBL out. The rest is history, real history.
Posted by: jake | February 6, 2012, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
MyTake Are you Black? I wouldn’t have guessed except you used the word hate. No one hates the president because he is black. Most hate him because he SUCKS? Can you come to terms with that MYTAKE? Or were you one of the feeble minds who only voted for him because he is black? He had no experience, and it shows!
Put down the Remote Control and read a history book
Posted by: Richard | February 6, 2012, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
I truly do not know what to think when it comes to Iran. Do we need to take a firmer stand? Probably. Will we end up at war with Iran? Possibly. I think it’s part of the reason behind the Pres pulling the troops out of Afghanistan earlier than predicted. We are stretched entirely too thin. If it comes down to war, we’re going to need all the manpower we can get. It would be nice to shut Iran up once and for all.They have been nothing but a thorn in our side for years, always threatening, always breaking the rules. It is obvious they feel cocky with their weapon and their backing. God help us.
Posted by: carole | February 6, 2012, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
MYTAKE: To imply, as does your rant, that a Republican president wouldn’t have taken the same action given the same intel shows just how clueless people like YOU are.
You totally got it WRONG but I’m not surprised. I was SAYING not IMPLYING that those on the RIGHT were the people SAYING that ONLY REpublicans could keep us safe and by the action and SUCCESSES of THIS President – President Obama, we are doing JUST FINE so we needn’t worry at ALL about who can keep us safer. GOT IT? In other words, it WAS the REPUBLICANS USING that tactic!!!! Every day, they have ONE less thing they can lie about to the voters of this nation and I can see it’s causing LOTS of concern and ANGER!
OBAMA 2012!!!
Posted by: demNme5 | February 6, 2012, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
Repubs Believe Dems are lazy and live off gov handouts
The repubs believe they have the answer ( Do away with S.S). (Do away with Medi Care ) ( Do away with Medicade) (Do away with minimum wage ) ( Do away with unions) (Do away with child labor laws) (Do away with Wall Street regs-and corp regs) (Give huge tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations) In repub eyes this is a boot up -when in reality it’s a boot in the rear -a poor man voting republican is-is (like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders)
Posted by: greedywaterrabbitt | February 6, 2012, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
Nothing new, he repeats everything he said.
Posted by: Steve | February 6, 2012, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
Posted by: greedywaterrabbitt | February 6, 2012, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
Yawn.
Posted by: Mary | February 6, 2012, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm
Please give us evidence that Delta Force had OBL surrounded in the mountains. I’ve heard alot about this myth but precious little to back it up. Jake, I hate to break this to you but Delta Force has not operated in Afghanistan-Special Ops have been the exclusive responsibilities of SEALs and SAS with a few other contributors from NATO
Posted by: Nephron | February 6, 2012, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
How come the only countries we have a problem with have tons of oil. North Korea developed a nuclear bomb and no body cared? I wonder why? Oil?
Posted by: blind spot | February 6, 2012, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
NEPHRON: I bet you wish it wasn’t true so you can justify your hate for Obama. Just type in Tora Bora bin laden and go the 2nd story and read it and weep.
Posted by: bob | February 6, 2012, 5:05 pm 5:05 pm
“Actually the previous President did have an opportunity to take OBL out when they had him trapped in the mountains by US Delta forces.” He was In the MOUNTAINS aware of the Delta Team forces closing in as opposed to a specific house unaware that his security had been compromise? Quit comparing apples and oranges.
Posted by: MyTake | February 6, 2012, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
Good, it is about time Obama stand against the crap Iran keeps spouting. Just like Saddam did with Iraq acting like he had nuclear weapons and was planning destruction. Iran keeps posturing for war so all you need to remember that if it happens. Iran getting nuclear capabililty could be the end of the world because their leader is a nutcase who does not even believe that the Holocaust happened.
Posted by: Seriously | February 6, 2012, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
Iran launched a rockets into orbit. If they arm one with a nuclear warhead they can hit any city on the globe with it. Thats why.
Posted by: Getreal2013 | February 6, 2012, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm
Blind Spot: Are you blind, North Korea has not vowed to wipe anyone off the face of the earth. Read a little will you please?
Posted by: Seriously | February 6, 2012, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
I have no doubt that Tel Aviv will be vaporized if Israel attacks Iran. The Evangelical Christians are hoping for that, as they think it will force Jesus to return. That’s why they are egging them on.
Posted by: thomas mc | February 6, 2012, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
Yes Bob, Dalton Fury is so good at telling stories he is writing novels about Delta Force.-doesn’t that strike you as odd?#1 What real Delta Force member would compromise operational security in this manner-particularly when ongoing operations were happening at the time of the interview?#2 Special Ops and intel Service members upon separation sign a legal form agreeing to never reveal classified information without authorization.Apparently this guy didn’t know that.#3 After years nobody has ever confirmed his story-because it never happened.
Posted by: Nephron | February 6, 2012, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
“Some of you just won’t accept whatever this man does even when he proves time and time again how wrong you are….”
How true. As the bumber sticker reads; “He won! Get over it already!!!” or my other favorite one; “Tea parties are for little girls and their imaginary friends…”
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | February 6, 2012, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
GETREAL2013: Get real in name only it seems. Iran isn’t even a threat to Israel let alone the US. Israel has two or three hundred nuclear weapons; mostly battlefield type weapons that can be used against near neighbours. All the posturing from Ahmadinejad, his cronies and the mad mullahs is just that; posturing, empty and more than a bit pathetic. It”s designed to strengthen their position with masses in Iran, something that is also helped by the way the West responds to that empty posturing. If the world wants a nuclear weapon free Middle East that is going to have to start with the only nuclear weapon armed power in the region. And that’s Israel, not Iran.
Posted by: ashadulailahaillallah | February 6, 2012, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
THOMAS MC: Who is it that you think will vaporise Tel Aviv? The only nuclear weapon armed forces in the area are those of Israel and the US.
Posted by: ashadulailahaillallah | February 6, 2012, 5:48 pm 5:48 pm
Are we still providing missile advanced technology to Russia?
Posted by: newcountryman | February 6, 2012, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
“Tea parties are for little girls and their imaginary friends…”
I think I saw that one on a car bumper in Great Britain on my last business trip.
Posted by: newcountryman | February 6, 2012, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
“You totally got it WRONG but I’m not surprised.” Re-read your original post again and decide whether you can be honest enough to admit that the tone and content of the two posts are not the same. As to the “successes” that have made us “safer”: Al Qaeda’s finances were so depleted they couldn’t launch another attack like 9/11, especially with the security measures enacted since then. Taking out Bin Laden was more about (admittedly gratifying) payback than ensuring our safety. You can’t count Libya as a “success” because it admittedly was not an immediate military threat to the US that justified military action, and no one knows how the new government will align. Iran’s government has shown that it doesn’t care about sanctions or embargos other then to justify continuing a nuclear program that until recently the left dismissed as paranoid rambling from the right, as as a major source of high-grade counterfeit US currency can easily compensate for any losses the US freezing its assets might entail.
Posted by: MyTake | February 6, 2012, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm
The Iraq’s gave the USA a bum’s rush rather than accept President Obama’s demands. He acts like a bull in a china shop with his bullying approach.
Posted by: Common _ Sense | February 6, 2012, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
As usual we see the right wings rabid comments about how Obama is weak. Russia agreed to back Iran if military action is taken. These on the right always tend to ‘forget’ that part…all the current GOP candidates advocating military action need to be as far from office as possible. Iraq was a disaster, imagine how a war in Iran backed by Russia will work out..it will land on American shores.
Posted by: D | February 6, 2012, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm
Detroit ‘Comeback’ Ad Filmed in New Orleans, L.A.
OBAMA/ABC_____VS___________AMERICA
Posted by: yep i siad that | February 6, 2012, 7:14 pm 7:14 pm
Iran’s government has shown that it doesn’t care about sanctions or embargos other then to justify continuing a nuclear program that until recently the left dismissed as paranoid rambling from the right, as as a major source of high-grade counterfeit US currency can easily compensate for any losses the US freezing its assets might entail.
Posted by: MyTake | February 6, 2012, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm
Actually, most of us Democrats were surprised to find out Iran had developed a nuclear facility on Bush’s watch – and that it went undetected for years under his administration. Yet, another intelligence failure from the Republican administration, along with Korea testing nuclear weapons, 9/11 and ‘weapons of mass destruction’.
Posted by: Coca | February 6, 2012, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
This is great, but what I want to know is what the Marxist has planned for us if he gets re-elected.
Posted by: P_Diddy | February 6, 2012, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm
when Obama won the election i was all like ” Come on! nooooooo!’ but he’s made good decisions so far, but come on, just encourage Israel to bomb Iran and then remove all traces of his involvement.
Posted by: mr. awesomepants | February 7, 2012, 12:38 am 12:38 am
Obama is an idiot who actually making the Iranians get the bomb by pissing them off!
Posted by: Peterson | March 26, 2012, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm