00:00The United States is preparing to impose its tougher sanctions yet on Iran
00:04as Washington seeks to increase pressure without launching another major military operation.
00:10Treasury Secretary Scott Besson says details of the new sanctions package will be announced on Monday.
00:16Besson's comments followed President Donald Trump's threat of unprecedented economic consequences
00:22against countries that provide Iran with financial, commercial or logistical support.
00:27Besson said the strategy is designed to weaken Iran's government
00:31and force other countries to decide whether they will continue supporting Tehran.
00:36Meanwhile, Iran's foreign ministry has condemned the latest measures as economic terrorism
00:42and said they threatened the country's sovereignty, national interests as well as their fundamental rights.
00:48The ministry also said the sanctions reflected decades of American hostility
00:53and argued that those responsible should be held accountable for the harm caused to civilians.
00:58Iran has faced extensive US sanctions since the 1979 Islamic Revolution
01:04and has repeatedly described Washington's economic pressure as unlawful and politically motivated.
01:13In other news, the United States has imposed fresh sanctions on Lebanon's Hezbollah
01:18and re-designated the group over allegations that it acts on behalf of the Iranian government.
01:24The Treasury Department said Hezbollah operates under Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force
01:31which has provided the group with long-standing financial and military support.
01:35The measures freeze targeted assets, restrict bank dealings and sanction 10 people
01:41accused of smuggling cash for Hezbollah, including a Turkish businessman linked to a regional Korea network.
01:48However, US officials said the measure is separate from additional sanctions
01:52that Washington has promised against Iran.
01:56The relationship between Iran and Hezbollah dates back decades
01:59with Iran's revolutionary guards helping to establish the Lebanese group during the civil war in 1982.
02:07Hezbollah later fought Israeli forces that entered Lebanon that same year
02:11before developing into a political and military organisation within the country.
