The White House reported late Tuesday that "crippling" sanctions against Iran are working, as President Barack Obama lodged more sanctions against Iran over it's nuclear prorgam.

"We have put in place crippling sanctions on the Iranian government. We have thrown the book at the Iranian government in terms of leaving no stone unturned in the sanctions regime. And we are determined and committed to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," said Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communications.

Rhodes's comments came after Obama signed an executive order approving sanctions on China's Bank of Kunlun and Iraq's Elaf Islamic Bank, both of which have helped Iran evade other sanctions, according to the administration.

"By cutting off these financial institutions from the United States, today's action makes it clear that we will expose any financial institution, no matter where they are located, that allows the increasingly desperate Iranian regime to retain access to the international financial system," Obama said in a statement.

The new sanctions come as congressional leaders announced success in negotiating yet another round of sanctions against Iran's financial, energy and shipping industries. Congress's new measures can be "complementary to what we're doing," Rhodes said.

The administration's latest action against Iran also comes as the Obama administration faces criticism on its handling of Iran's nuclear threat.

Rhodes said the Obama administration has "seen the sanctions have a significant impact on the Iranian economy" and believes the sanctions have slowed the development of Iran's nuclear program.

"Where we certainly agree with Prime Minister Netanyahu is on the fundamental question that we have not yet seen the Iranian government make a decision to come in line with international obligations," Rhodes said.

"So we share very much the assessment of the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the purpose of the sanctions is to change the calculus of the Iranian government with respect to their nuclear program. And until they make that decision, we need to continue to increase the pressure."