White House says shutdown impeding efforts for sanctions against Iran and Syria

White House press secretary has reportedly said that the US shutdown has marred the country's efforts in issuing sanctions against Iran, Syria and other terrorist organizations.

Jay Carney said that The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control has had to furlough all but 11 of its 175 full-time employees, making it unable to perform its core functions which include issuing of new sanctions.

According to Politico, the work of issuing sanctions against those enabling the governments of Iran and Syria, as well as terrorist organizations, WMD proliferators, narcotics cartels and transnational organized crime groups is impeded.

Carney did not directly say if the shutdown will affect sanctions against Iran and Syria, but said that it would be a negative consequence.

The under secretary of state for political affairs, Wendy Sherman said that their ability to enforce sanctions, to stop sanction evaders, is being hampered significantly by the shutdown.

She further assured that the department will continue to vigorously enforce the sanctions that are in place as they explore a negotiated resolution, and will be focused on sanctions evasion and efforts by the Iranians to relieve the pressure.