The US House of Representatives voted Tuesday to enact sanctions targeting gasoline imports to Iran by penalizing foreign companies that sell refined petroleum to the Islamic state, dpa reported.
The legislation is designed to increase pressure on Iran to come clean about its nuclear activities, which the West suspects is intended to build a bomb. Iran insists the programme is purely for civilian purposes.
The House voted overwhelmingly 412-12 to give President Barack Obama's administration authority to cut off companies that import or facilitate importing the product to Iran from US financial institutions. The Senate is expected to take up a similar measure next year.
The Obama administration has been ambiguous about whether it supports the deal as it continues to seek a diplomatic solution to the standoff. State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said Tuesday that officials have been consulting with Congress about whether various aspects of it "may or may not" help the diplomatic effort.
The United States has had broad sanctions on Iran for decades. Tuesday's legislation would expand an existing US law that punishes companies who invest more than 20 million dollars in Iran's energy sector.