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The United States on Monday praised the European Union and Canada for hitting Iran with new sanctions against its vital oil and gas industry amid efforts to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions.
"The United States welcomes the strong steps taken by our European and Canadian partners to implement UNSC (UN Security Council) resolution 1929," adopted in June, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said.
"These measures, combined with the new and existing US sanctions, underscore the international community's deepening concerns about Iran's nuclear program," Crowley said.
"We've already begun to see the impact of the sanctions as companies around the world refuse to do business with Iran, rather than to risk becoming involved in Iran's nuclear program and other illicit activities," he said.
On Monday, European foreign ministers formally adopted new punitive measures, going beyond a fourth set of UN sanctions imposed in June over Tehran's refusal to freeze its uranium enrichment work, followed by Canada within hours.
The moves, which come after similar sanctions imposed by the United States, are aimed at reviving moribund talks between Iran and six world powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US.
The EU measures include a ban on the sale of equipment, technology and services to Iran's energy sector, hitting activities in refining, liquefied natural gas, exploration and production, diplomats said.
New investments in the energy sector are also banned.
Canada's sanctions take aim at Iran's energy and banking sectors, as well as chemical, biological and nuclear activities, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said.
Canada will also bar all new investment in Iran's energy industry, particularly crude oil refining and liquefied natural gas.
