Special Report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush ordered on Friday to extend by one year a freeze of Iranian government assets in the United States, the White House said.

    The sanctions against Iran was first ordered by then president Jimmy Carter on November 14, 1979, 10 days after Iran students took over the American embassy in Tehran. The United States renews the freeze of Iranian government assets every year since then.

    Washington has no diplomatic relations with Tehran since April 1980, five months after Iranian students occupied the American embassy in Tehran. Fifty-two Americans were held hostage for 444 days.