Iran feeling pressure at the pump

TEHRAN, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- With truck drivers in Iran protesting high fuel prices, U.S. officials said they were again tightening the screws on the Iranian economy.

Washington enacted new economic sanctions on Iran that target the country's maritime shipping industry. U.S. officials said sanctions passed Tuesday have a ripple effect on several industries, including the petroleum industry.

"Our policy is to continue to impose pressure on Iran as long as it continues to violate its obligations (to the international community)," said Stuart Levey, the U.S. Treasury Department's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, in a statement.

Washington claims Tehran is skirting its obligations regarding what Iranians say is a peaceful nuclear program.

Iranians braced for unrest after government cuts to gasoline subsidies raised fuel prices during the weekend. Riot police were deployed to protect gas stations following an economic plan meant to ease the strain from economic sanctions.

Truck drivers under the new price mechanism can buy gasoline at $0.06 per gallon only once more before the price goes up to $1.32 per gallon, The Washington Post reports. Truck drivers have taken to the streets in protest, the newspaper says.