The United States has imposed more sanctions against Iran’s Central Bank in a bid to exert more pressure on the country over its nuclear program

The United States has imposed on Monday more sanctions against Iran’s Central Bank in a bid to exert more pressure on the country over its nuclear program.

The White House said that President Barack Obama had signed an executive order blocking all Iranian government assets in the US, including that of the Central Bank.

"I have determined that additional sanctions are warranted," Obama said in a letter to Congress.

The measures block all property and interests belonging to the Iranian government, the Central Bank and all Iranian financial institutions that fall within US jurisdiction. Previously, US institutions were required to reject, rather than block, such Iranian transactions.

The new executive order gives American institutions new powers to seize assets they encounter instead of just turning them back.