[New York Times] Mark Landler - The Obama administration is scrambling to assemble a package of harsher economic sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program that could include a cutoff of investments to the country's oil-and-gas industry and restrictions on many more Iranian banks than those currently blacklisted, senior administration officials said Sunday. The administration also is seeking to build a broader coalition of partners for sanctions so that it may still be able to act against Iran even if China and Russia were to veto harsher measures in the UN Security Council. In the upcoming Oct. 1 meeting between the U.S. and Iran, the Americans are expected to press for quick access and blueprints to a newly disclosed Iranian nuclear site. American efforts to marshal worldwide pressure against Iran have gained traction since the revelation last Friday that Iran was operating a clandestine nuclear site. However, administration officials said the U.S. was not likely to win support from its European allies for an embargo on shipments of gasoline or other refined fuel to Iran.
2009-09-29 08:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive