Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Western powers have begun bolstering sanctions on Iran.

Britain, Canada and the United States, have announced new sanctions on
Iran’s financial system. Officials said the sanctions, announced on Nov. 21, were meant to retaliate for Iran’s
continued efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

“If you are a financial institution and you engage in any transaction involving Iran’s Central Bank or any other Iranian bank operating inside or outside Iran, you are at risk of supporting Iran’s illicit activities,” Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said. “Its pursuit of nuclear weapons, its
support for terrorism, and its efforts to deceive responsible financial institutions and evade sanctions.”

In all, Treasury designated 11 Iranians and entities and identified
Teheran as a jurisdiction of “primary money laundering concern” under the U.S. Patriot Act. Some of those designated were identified as the Nuclear Reactors Fuel Co., Noor Afzar Gostar Co., Fulmen Group and Yasa Part, said to have been involved in Iranian centrifuge development, heavy water research reactor and uranium enrichment.

Still, Treasury, amid a debate within the administration of President
Barack Obama, did not impose sanctions on the Central Bank. Officials said
direct sanctions on the Central Bank could harm the global crude oil market.

Critics in Congress asserted that Obama has not done
enough to penalize Iran. In mid-November, Sen. Mark Kirk, a leading
Republican, introduced an amendment that would sanction any bank or
financial institution with links to the Iranian Central Bank.

  Barack Obama, but spares Central Bank, Sen. Mark Kirk, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, U.S. Patriot Act, West extends sanctions on Iran