WASHINGTON -- President Obama slapped new sanctions on Iran Monday, freezing all
property of the Central Bank of Iran, other financial institutions, and
the central government.
"These actions underscore the
administration's resolve to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its
failure to meet its international obligations," said a statement from
the Treasury Department. "Iran now faces an unprecedented level of
pressure due to intensified sanctions applied by the United States and
complementary actions by many others around the world.
"The new
E.O. issued today re-emphasizes this administration's message to the
government of Iran -- it will face ever-increasing economic and
diplomatic pressure until it addresses the international community's
well-founded and well-documented concerns regarding the nature of its
nuclear program."
Earlier, in a TV
interview, Obama said the U.S. government has a "very good estimate" of
how far along Iran is in its effort toward building a nuclear weapon,
but he warned that aspects of the Iranian regime remain a puzzle.
"Do we know all of the dynamics inside of Iran? Absolutely not," Obama said on NBC's Today
show. "Iran itself is a lot more divided now than it was. Knowing who
is making decisions at any given time inside of Iran is tough."
In
the interview that was taped a day earlier, Obama said he preferred a
diplomatic solution, but also made clear that the United States is in
lockstep with Israel, which has grown impatient and is reportedly
considering a military strike against Iran to stop the purported nuclear
program.
Obama, who has had a strained relationship with Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, says the U.S. and Israel "have closer
military and intelligence consultation ... than we ever have had." He
wouldn't say if Israel has agreed to forewarn the White House if it
ultimately decides to strike against Iran.
The president is still
hopeful that the standoff can be solved by diplomatic means, but he said
that the U.S. has done extensive planning on a range of options.
"We are prepared to exercise these options should they arise," Obama said.
USA Today