AFP reports that Obama’s pick for Treasury Secretary Timoty Geithner will continue to put financial pressure on the Iranian banking system.
Back to topObama’s Treasury pick vows financial action against Iran
January 22, 2009
WASHINGTON (AFP) – Treasury secretary-designate Timothy Geithner vowed to pursue the US government’s financial offensive on Iran to stamp out its alleged weapons proliferation and support for terrorism.
In written answers to members of the Senate finance committee, released Thursday as part of his confirmation process, Geithner noted that Treasury has blacklisted a number of Iranian banks and companies over those concerns.
“If confirmed as secretary of the Treasury, I would consider the full range of tools available to the US Department of the Treasury, including unilateral measures, to prevent Iran from misusing the financial system to engage in proliferation and terrorism,” he wrote in response to senators’ questions.
“I agree wholeheartedly that the Department of the Treasury has done outstanding work in ratcheting up the pressure on Iran, both by vigorously enforcing our sanctions against Iran and by sharing information with key financial actors around the world about how Iran’s deceptive conduct poses a threat to the integrity of the financial system,” Geithner said.