New York, NY, June 17, 2010 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed the Treasury Department's announcement of new sanctions on Iran, including the first set of actions in response to the president's call for vigorous enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1929.

Treasury has designated the Post Bank of Iran and two additional affiliates of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as among those isolated from the U.S. financial and commercial systems due to their involvement in proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. 

"The designations of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its affiliates as proliferators sends an important message to the remaining foreign companies that work in Iran's energy sector, where these two IRGC affiliates are active," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. 

In a letter to President Obama, ADL welcomed the administration's decision to identify Iran's major government-owned oil companies as entities for U.S. persons to avoid.

"Iran's oil companies are an integral part of the regime, providing it with the revenues to continue to pursue nuclear weapons and repress the Iranian people," said Mr. Foxman.  "We believe that sanctions directed against Iran's oil exports will have the best chance of success to dissuade the regime from pursuing nuclear weapons, and we hope Treasury's decision to mention the oil companies is a first step in that direction."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.