US imposes fresh sanctions on Iran ahead of nuclear talks

WASHINGTON — The United States imposed fresh sanctions on Iran on Wednesday, the Treasury Department said, two days after President Donald Trump announced the US planned "direct" talks with Teheran over its nuclear program.

The department designated five entities and one person based in Iran for their support of Iran's nuclear program, it said in a statement, with the aim of denying Iran a nuclear weapon.

The action comes after Trump made a surprise announcement on Monday that the United States and Iran were poised to begin direct talks on Teheran's nuclear program.