WASHINGTON (AP) The White House says that expanding economic sanctions against Iran to cover additional companies does not violate an agreement the United States and other countries have reached with Tehran over its nuclear program.
The White House said Friday the decision to freeze U.S. assets of firms in Panama, Singapore and Ukraine represented actions based on existing sanctions. Spokesman Jay Carney says President Barack Obama is committed to refraining from any new nuclear-related sanctions.
Iran pulled out of mid-level talks with six world powers Friday to protest the expansion of U.S. sanctions announced Thursday. Tehran's senior negotiator called the move a double standard that violates the spirit of the agreement.
