State Department Analyst: US is Searching For Every Tool to Pressure Syria

Announcement comes amid new sanctions.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- With sanctions on Iran hitting the Syrian energy sector, Washington is searching for "every tool" to pressure the Damascus regime, an analyst said.

Patrick Ventrell, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, announced amended sanctions on Iran now extend to Syrian state-run oil company Sytrol. He said gasoline sales by Iran to Syria totaled $36 million in April.