The U.S. Congress has approved new sanctions on Iran’s energy, shipping and financial sectors as it continues to press the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program.
Reuters reports that the bill was approved by both Republican and Democrat representatives.
The bill will come into effect once President Barack Obama signs it.
Senator Tim Johnson, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, said that steps are being taken to stop Iran from circumventing the sanctions.
The U.S. Senate approved the bill unanimously, after it passed in the House of Representatives 421-6.
AIPAC, the influential pro-Israel U.S. lobby praised the latest round of sanctions, saying it “represents the strongest set of sanctions to isolate any country in the world during peacetime."
In a statement, AIPAC said: “The implementation of this bill would subject virtually all of Iran’s energy, financial, and transportation sectors to U.S. sanctions.”
On Tuesday, Barack Obama announced that the U.S. will take measures against foreign banks that assist Iran in their oil exports.
The sanctions come on the heels of criticism from Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential hopeful, who said the White House sanctions policies are not enough to deter Iran.
