US preparing missile sanctions against Iran

On Wednesday, things got even stranger, with the report in The Wall Street Journal that the U.S. Treasury Department is preparing sanctions against businesses and individuals that have supported Iran’s development of ballistic missiles.

U.S. officials claim the new sanctions are in line with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement, and the Treasury Department can impose new sanctions on Iran over its missile development.

Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources Yuval Steinitz encouraged on Thursday reported U.S. plans for new sanctions against Iran over its ballistic missile program.

Almost two dozen Senate Democrats have heaped pressure on the Obama administration during the month of December to do something in response to the October and November launches, which run afoul of UN Security Council Resolution 1929.

Diplomats have said it was possible for the sanctions committee to blacklist additional Iranian individuals or entities over the missile launch. Iran says its missile programme is only for defence purposes.

However, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has previously warned any sanctions would violate the historic agreement.

They would be the first financial sanctions on Iran since Tehran agreed to a landmark nuclear agreement in July and present a serious challenge to the accord’s implementation.

A formal announcement is expected this week, the Journal reported.

Iran says the Security Council resolution approved in July would only ban missiles “designed” to carry a nuclear warhead, not “capable of”, so it would not affect its military program as Tehran does not pursues nuclear weapons. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov had said earlier that Russia planned to take Iran’s low-enriched uranium before the end of the year.

The deal reached with the administration of the relatively moderate Rouhani has been panned by Iranian hard-liners, and in the months since, Iran has conducted missile tests criticized by the U.S., as well as aired footage on state television of an underground missile base.

Iran’s ballistic missile program is pretty extensive.

Iran caused tensions in the Persian Gulf this week when it tested rockets close to United States navy vessels which the Pentagon called provocative and irresponsible.

The UN report said the Emad ballistic missile has a range of “no less than 1,000 km with a payload of at least 1,000 kg”.

“While most interactions between Iranian forces and the U.S. Navy are professional, safe and routine, this event was not and runs contrary to efforts to ensure freedom of navigation and maritime safety in the global commons”, U.S. Central Command spokesman Kyle Raines said in an emailed statement to Reuters. Raines said the firing came 23 minutes after Iranians announced a live fire exercise over maritime radio.