The US Senate Banking Committee approved unanimously on Thursday a legislation that would authorize the Obama administration to impose tougher sanctions on Iran for failing to give up an alleged nuclear weapons program.?

The Senate panel took the action a day after the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a bill that would subject foreign companies doing gasoline business with Iran to tough US sanctions.

The latest actions by US lawmakers have apparently tightened loop on Iran for its disputed nuclear program.

The United States, its European allies and Israel claim that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons, while the UN Security Council also requires Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activity.

However, Iran insists that its nuclear plan is only for peaceful purposes, and continues its uranium enrichment activity despite the pressure from the Western countries and relevant resolutions and sanctions of the United Nations.