U.S. puts new pressure on Iran

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Thursday beefed up its sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, accusing the elite military unit of illegal trade in missile technology and weapons of mass destruction.

The latest sanctions against Iran was announced one day after the U.S. Treasury Department accused the Export Development Bank of Iran of providing financial services to Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, which controls the country's ballistic missile research, development and production activities.

Under U.S. law, any bank accounts or other financial assets belonging to the Export Development Bank of Iran that are found in the United States are frozen. Americans also are forbidden from doing business with the bank.

The Revolutionary Guard is thought to be the largest branch of Iran's military. In October 2007, Washington branded the forces as a supporter of terrorism as it imposed the toughest sanctions on Tehran since the Islamist revolution of 1979.

The United States and its Western allies also have long accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons. Iran always denies U.S. charges.
[Submitted by President]