Thursday, October 25, 2007

Iran - new sanctions

Condoleezza Rice has announced new tougher sanctions to dissuade companies from doing business with Iran:
"The United States today imposed its harshest programme of sanctions on Iran since the Islamic Republic's 1979 revolution.

Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State, announced that 22 Iranian Government agencies and three state-owned banks were being blacklisted, in an attempt to punish Iran for refusing to stop enriching uranium." [...]

"Announcing the measures, Ms Rice told journalists: "These actions will help to protect the international financial system from the illicit activities of the Iranian government."

Uh-huh. It remains to be seen if the new sanctions will be any more effective than the old ones were at curbing Business As Usual for these guys.