The US Treasury Department said Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security supported the Syrian regime as it "continues to commit human rights abuses" and played a "central role" in repression in Iran. The sanctions mean any property owned by the Ministry in the United States or under US control will be seized. Ministry officials will be banned from travel to the US. While the sanctions are likely to have a limited material impact, the move represents a significant step up in Washington's reaction to Iran's alleged role in the repression of year-long Syrian uprising. To date the US response had been limited to accusations that weapons and advice was flowing between the Middle Eastern allies. But Thursday's concrete action is likely to further inflame tensions between Washington and Tehran. In recent months a long-running dispute over Iran's nuclear program and its alleged support for Hezbollah has been augmented with tit-for-tat threats of economic sanctions and a series of attacks around the globe which some say Iran perpetrated. They include a plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia's ambassador in Washington and a series of bombings in India, Georgia and Thailand. "Today we have designated the (intelligence ministry) for abusing the basic human rights of Iranian citizens and exporting its vicious practices to support the Syrian regime's abhorrent crackdown on its own population,' said Treasury chief David Cohen. "In addition, we are designating the (Ministry) for its support to terrorist groups, including Al Qaida, Al Qaida in Iraq, Hezbollah and Hamas, again exposing the extent of Iran's sponsorship of terrorism as a matter of Iranian state policy."