As part of an American and European- led effort to force Iran to drop its nuclear development program, Canada has imposed more sanctions on the Islamic republic, Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon announced in Ottawa on Monday.

"Iran's continued disregard for successive United Nations Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency resolutions calling on it to comply with international nuclear obligations and suspend its enrichment activities is unacceptable, " Cannon told reporters at a brief press conference.

"Iran's actions and aggressive statements are an affront to the efforts of Canada and like-minded countries to ensure peace and world-wide security," he said.

Cannon noted that on July 11 Iran announced that it had produced 20 kilograms of uranium enriched to 20 percent, and said the Iranian program is "in flagrant violation of previously imposed resolutions."

"These actions bring Iran closer to building nuclear weapons that threaten us all," he said. "On numerous occasions, failure to comply with international standards continues to raise doubts about Iran's objectives."

The new Canadian sanctions ban further export of "proliferation- sensitive goods;" technology for refining oil and gas; arms; new investment in Iran's oil and gas sectors; technology related to nuclear development, oil and gas refining, and arms.

Iranian financial institutions are now barred from operating in Canada and Canadians may not purchase Iranian government debt instruments.

"These additional sanctions are in no way meant to harm or punish the Iranian people. They are aimed at Iran's irresponsible and aggressive government," Cannon said.

Ottawa's new sanctions were designed to conform to similar punitive measures recently taken by the European Union and the United States under UN Resolution 1926.

Canadian officials said privately that Canada expects Japan and Australia to sign on to these new sanctions within the next few days.

"These sanctions are intended to slow the progress of the Iranian authorities' nuclear, chemical and biological and missile programs," Cannon said. "They are also intended to persuade the Iranian authorities to resume negotiations with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, with the aim of meeting Iran's nuclear obligation."

He said the international community "is united in purpose and commitment," and that "no state can threaten peace and security without consequences."

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement that the sanctions are designed to hamper attempts by Iran to develop nuclear, chemical, biological and missile programs as well as to persuade it to agree to "constructive discussions with China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States."

"These sanctions also send a message to all states -- particularly those with nuclear aspirations -- that international standards cannot be flouted without consequence," Harper said.

The sanctions bar dealings with designated individuals and entities involved in nuclear or weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) proliferation, including key members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, he said.

"They ban new investments in Iran's oil and gas sector and the export of goods to Iran that could contribute to nuclear proliferation," Harper added.

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