国际英语新闻：Canada imposes more sanctions on Iran

OTTAWA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- As part of an American and European- led effort to force Iran to drop its nuclear development program, Canada has imposed more sanctions on the Islamic republic, Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon announced here on Monday.

"Iran's continued disregard for successive United Nations Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency resolutions calling on it to comply with international nuclear obligations and suspend its enrichment activities is unacceptable, " Cannon told reporters at a brief press conference.

"Iran's actions and aggressive statements are an affront to the efforts of Canada and like-minded countries to ensure peace and world-wide security," he said.

Cannon noted that on July 11 Iran announced that it had produced 20 kilograms of uranium enriched to 20 percent, and said the Iranian program is "in flagrant violation of previously imposed resolutions."

"These actions bring Iran closer to building nuclear weapons that threaten us all," he said. "On numerous occasions, failure to comply with international standards continues to raise doubts about Iran's objectives."

The new Canadian sanctions ban further export of "proliferation- sensitive goods;" technology for refining oil and gas; arms; new investment in Iran's oil and gas sectors; technology related to nuclear development, oil and gas refining, and arms.