The US has slapped fresh sanctions against Iran, targeting the country's elite Revolutionary Guard force and energy and shipping sectors over its controversial nuclear and missile programmes. Sanctions were placed on the financial networks of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is seen as a key driver of Iran's suspected nuclear weapons programme. The country's national maritime carrier, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines was also targeted. Under Secretary forTerrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey said, the US will continue to target and expose their networks. The UN, US and EU had also recently imposed new punitive measures against Tehran in a bid to stop its uranium enrichment programme which they fear masks a weapons drive. Tehran denies the charge, saying the programme has purely peaceful goals.