The Obama administration cracked down Thursday on oil and shipping companies accused of helping Iran evade economic sanctions, even as top officials continued pressing Congress to delay enacting additional restrictions while nuclear talks with Iran are under way.
The enforcement actions against Asian, European and Iranian firms were announced moments before two of the administration's top experts on Iran appeared before a Senate panel to warn again that the imposition of additional sanctions on Iran could doom any chance of a diplomatic agreement halting the country's nuclear advances.
The officials cited the new enforcement measures as evidence that the administration intends to keep steady pressure on Iran until a final agreement is reached on permanent limits to its nuclear program.