Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, commended the Bush Administration for the newly announced sanctions against Iran – which were reported HERE on YW.

Secretary of State Rice and Secretary of Treasury Paulson announced the toughest sanctions against Iran by an American administration since the 1979 Iranian revolution, against three state owned banks: Bank Melli, Bank Mellat, and Bank Saderat for their aiding Iran’s nuclear proliferation efforts and their financial support of international terrorism, as well as designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps a “specially designated global terrorist entity”. The Revolutionary Guards supports and facilitates terror worldwide. The U.S. Government believes them complicit in deaths of U.S. servicemen in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nathan J. Diament, UOJCA Director of Public Policy stated:

As the time to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambition grows shorter and Iran’s own efforts at terror against America and Israel, which it has threatened to wipe off the map, grow increasingly bolder, keeping the pressure on Tehran is the best hope for the region and the world. These sanctions will deny Iran access to funds and markets to further its evil intentions, and send a clear message that the United States joins all people of good will in using every possible means to ensure Iran does not cause further death and destruction to innocents.

We commend Secretary Rice and Secretary Paulson for their action announced today, and thank President Bush for his leadership on this critical issue.