B’nai B’rith International welcomes tough new sanctions against Iran announced by the U.S. Treasury department and the European Union.

In both cases, these new sanctions target businesses and industries that can directly aid Iran’s efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.

“These new measures by the United States and the European Union, building on the recent United Nations-passed sanctions, are essential to the process of stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons,” B’nai B’rith International President Dennis W. Glick said. “Targeting a broader range of Iran’s business sector will help isolate Tehran.”

The new sanctions are designed to close loopholes that have enabled Iran to continue to spin its centrifuges and conduct international business dealings related to its nuclear program, even in the face of sanctions. The United States has now added even more businesses to its list of those banned from having transactions with Iran. B’nai B’rith expects that private companies will avoid doing business with Iran for fear of violating these new regulations.

The European Union sanctions announced on June 17 will implement an updated set up of sanctions to help further isolate Tehran.

“These new regulations should make it that much harder for Tehran to make an end-run around existing sanctions,” B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said. “The adoption of new sanctions in the U.S. and in Europe should be seen as important steps in building what we hope will be efforts that are far more united than in the past to stop Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.”

The international community must give this issue the attention and urgency it deserves, and implement sanctions to the fullest extent possible. While the world has been discussing and debating sanctions, Iran has continued to develop nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them.