US bill planned to force Iran nuclear talks

Iran could face a new array of US sanctions under proposed legislation that is meant to force Tehran into international talks on its nuclear programme.

A bipartisan bill would impose penalties on human rights abusers in Iran, including freezing their US assets, denying them visas and prohibiting US financial or business transactions.

The sanctions would also target foreign companies that do energy business with Iran; expand help to pro-democracy groups in Iran; and require all US-registered companies to declare whether they do business with Iran.