U.S. President Barack Obama has signed an order to extend sanctions against Iran that were imposed in 1995, the White House reported on Tuesday, RIA Novosti reported.
"Because the actions and policies of the government of Iran continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, the national emergency declared on March 15, 1995, must continue in effect beyond March 15, 2012," Obama's notice says.
The West led by the United States suspects Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear power program, which Tehran denies.
Iran is under a few sets of UN Security Council sanctions.