Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States has enhanced its campaign against
suspected violators of sanctions on Iran and Syria.

President Barack Obama has empowered his administration to identify and
track alleged violators of U.S. and international sanctions on Damascus
and Teheran.

On May 1, Obama signed an order that authorized the Treasury
Department to identify foreigners and companies that bypass sanctions.

“Treasury now has the capability to publicly identify foreign
individuals and entities that have engaged in these evasive and deceptive activities, and generally bar access to the U.S. financial and commercial systems,” Treasury said.

The order was issued as Washington has been criticized for failing to
enforce sanctions on Iran and Syria. Critics have pointed to reports that China and India were establishing fronts to help Teheran evade sanctions on its energy sector.

“Whoever tries to evade our sanctions does so at the expense of the
people of Syria and Iran, and they will be held accountable,” Treasury
Undersecretary David Cohen said.

Cohen said Treasury now wields “a new authority to tighten further the
U.S. sanctions on Iran and Syria.” He said those on the new violators list
would be banned from doing business with Americans.

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