"The designations announced yesterday were related to the enforcement of existing sanctions, and we have made clear all along that we would continue to enforce existing sanctions," said Carney.
Carney disputed claims that an Iranian delegation left technical talks in Vienna in protest of Washington's designations, saying, "after four days of detailed talks all teams have returned to their capitals for further consultations, and that was always the plan."
He insisted that the administration remains committed to holding off on new sanctions while the P5+1 group of world powers continues to negotiate a comprehensive agreement with Iran.
State Department spokesperson Marie Harf added that Iran was notified of the designations "yesterday in Vienna on the sidelines of the experts' meeting before they were made public here."