According to official reports, Canada on Monday announced tightened sanctions against Iran, accusing Tehran of defying international law by edging closer to building nuclear weapons.

Postmedia News reported on Monday that Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said the heightened sanctions, like previous Canadian sanctions, are directed against the Iranian government, not its people to, "send a strong signal to Iran: the international community is united in purpose and commitment."

The News also said that effective immediately, the new restrictions prohibit Iran from dealing with specific persons involved in chemical, nuclear, biological and missile proliferation. They also ban the export of proliferation-sensitive goods, items for refining oil and gas, all remaining arms, and technology related to these goods.

Cannon said in a statement, "Iran's continued disregard for successive United Nations Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency resolutions calling on it to comply with international nuclear obligations and suspend its (uranium) enrichment activities is unacceptable."

He further added, "Iran's actions and aggressive statements are an affront to the efforts of Canada and like-minded countries to ensure peace and security worldwide." (With Inputs from Agencies)