Obama administration welcomes new EU sanctions on Iran

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration on Monday applauded Europe's decision to slap new sanctions on Iran and said the United States and its international partners were committed to preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Europe's ban on imports of Iranian crude oil and moves to freeze the assets of Iran's central bank are "another strong step in the international effort to dramatically increase the pressure on Iran," Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a joint statement.

The Obama administration said the EU sanctions were consistent with the steps the United States has taken against Iran.