WASHINGTON (CN) - President Barack Obama has extended sanctions against Iran, senior Iranian officials and its security services, including freezing of assets, trade bans and export controls implemented by executive orders in 1995, 1997 and 2010.
Former President Bill Clinton issued executive orders in 1995 prohibiting the entry of those engaged in building, managing or financing petroleum resources in Iran into the U.S. and forbade import or export of virtually any goods between the two countries. In 1997, Clinton expanded the trade prohibitions outlined in his two previous orders.
Last year, following the compromised presidential elections in Iran and the subsequent violent crackdown on peaceful protestors, Obama issued an executive order freezing assets, under the jurisdiction of the United States, of the government of Iran, and senior government officials responsible for the crackdown.
Executive orders are issued by the president and exercise executive branch authority under various statutes. They tend to have built in expiration dates and require reauthorization by the president to continue. Former President Clinton's orders have been renewed every year since they were issued.
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