Obama Clears Way to Tighten Iranian Oil Sanctions

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/31/business/global/obama-to-clear-way-to-expand-iranian-oil-sanctions.html

Today President Obama authorized further sanctions on Iranian oil, claiming that world supply and prices were sufficient to allow for even more restrictions on Iranian oil imports. This decision comes even as gas prices in the US continue to climb. Mr. Obama's measure has been mandated by a rare unanimous senate vote, and will place increased penalties on corporations and other entities that purchase Iranian oil. The aim of the sanctions is to isolate the Iranian Central Bank from the world economy, harming the Iranian economy in an effort to pressure Iran to drop its nuclear program.

I believe this move is necessary, as the prospect of a nuclear Iran is very frightening indeed. The measure adopted contains loop-holes that will allow it to be quickly waived in the case of a spike in gas prices, so if the measures threaten to do significant damage to the American economy, Obama can swiftly lift them. Already, sanctions on Iranian oil have succeeded in decreasing the amount of money Iran has available to pursue its nuclear ambitions. While these sanctions will harm many citizens of both the US and Iran, I believe the costs are necessary.