U.S. Penalizes Companies Tied to Iran Corps.

The Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Wednesday on a commander and four companies linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps of Iran, underscoring the Obama administration's determination to single out the elite corps as a way to curb Iran's nuclear program. The Treasury said it froze the assets of four affiliates of a sprawling construction conglomerate owned by the Revolutionary Guards, as well as those of Gen. Rostam Qasemi, who oversees the companies, because they are accused of being involved in Iran's effort to manufacture nuclear weapons. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]