RIGID new US sanctions against Iran have come into force, including bans on the exchange of gold to the Islamic republic, as Washington ratchets up efforts to isolate the country over its nuclear program.
Iran's foreign ministry denounced the sanctions as "the wrong step at the wrong time," warning the move would only complicate efforts to resolve the standoff through dialogue.
Turkey is believed to conduct extensive business with Iran using gold, and the US suspects it of importing Iranian natural gas and paying for the energy with the metal to circumvent existing restrictions on financial transactions with Tehran.
For years, the US and the international community have imposed an arsenal of sanctions against Iran, accusing it of using its civilian nuclear energy program as a cover for attempts to build atomic weapons - charges Tehran denies.
US President Barack Obama last July targeted Iran's oil export sector, vowing punishment against firms that circumvented restrictions on the financial dealings.
"Definitely, the more they add to the sanctions, the more difficult and complicated but not impossible the path of negotiation becomes," said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi on Monday ahead of the implementation of the new sanctions.
He was referring to years of ongoing but fruitless talks between Iran and world powers aimed at forcing Tehran to cut back on its sensitive part of its nuclear drive in exchange for incentives, including the lifting of sanctions.
Iran's economy is struggling to cope with the sanctions, which have cost billions in vital oil revenues, leaving Tehran struggling with raging inflation, high unemployment and a depreciated currency.
"Congress is going to definitely hold the administration's feet to the fire on enforcement," Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told AFP.
In practice, gold sales by any person or group to an Iranian government entity or private citizen can now trigger sanctions against the seller.
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