The United States has imposed a new round of sanctions targeting Iran. On Tuesday, the White House said it would punish more foreign banks that help sell Iranian oil and would also extend penalties for those who buy Iranian petrochemicals. Speaking on a visit to Egypt, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta denied a recent report that the Obama administration has shared contingency plans for a military strike on Iran with the Israeli government.

Leon Panetta: “We continue to work together in the effort to ensure that Iran does not reach that point of developing a nuclear weapon. As with regards to any specific plans, you know, we — I think it’s the wrong characterization to say that we’re going to be discussing potential attack plans. What we are discussing are various contingencies and how we would respond.”