NEW YORK: The American Jewish Committee (AJC) praised the Canadian government for imposing a new round of sanctions against Iran in the face of the Tehran regime's continued pursuit of its illegal nuclear program.

"We warmly commend Canada, a leading member of the family of democratic nations, for standing up to Iran's determination to plunge the region and the world into nuclear peril," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "Following the tough new sanctions adopted by the United States and the European Union, Canada's announcement is another vital reaffirmation of the international consensus that Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons."

The Canadian measures, announced by Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, will include a ban on any new Canadian investment in Iran's oil and gas sector, and restrictions on exporting goods that could be used in nuclear programs. Iranian banks will also be barred from opening branches in Canada and Canadian banks will not be able to operate in Iran.

The Canadian and European measures were welcomed by the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and the Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner. In a joint statement, Clinton and Geithner declared: "Moving forward, the United States will continue to work with the European Union, Canada, and our allies and partners around the world to put additional pressure on Iran and ensure that existing sanctions are vigorously enforced. The message to Iran's leaders is clear: Meet your responsibilities or face increasing isolation and consequences."