Obama targets evaders of Iran, Syria sanctions

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama signed an order giving the Treasury Department more power to go after individuals and groups who try to evade America's sanctions against Iran and Syria.

Treasury said on Tuesday the order gives it "a new authority to tighten further the US sanctions on Iran and Syria."

"Treasury now has the capability to publicly identify foreign individuals and entities that have engaged in these evasive and deceptive activities, and generally bar access to the US financial and commercial systems," the department said in a statement.