U.S. imposes new Iran sanctions for ballistic missile testing

The United States on Sunday imposed sanctions against 11 individuals and entities involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program as a result of Tehran’s firing of a medium-range ballistic missile, a new punishment one day after the Obama administration lifted economic penalties against Iran over its nuclear program.

The glow of goodwill that followed a surprise prisoner swap and the lifting of worldwide sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program over the weekend is already being tempered by the somber realization that the Islamic Republic is not likely to change course significantly on other pressing conflicts with the West.

The cutting of relations set back efforts made by Rouhani’s government since July, when a nuclear deal with the West was struck, to boost Iran’s clout in worldwide diplomacy, particularly in peace talks on Syria.

The sanctions were lifted after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran met its obligations in the deal.

All the major Republican candidates were railing against the nuclear deal and the easing of sanctions, with several promising to tear up the nuclear pact, if elected.

A U.S. Treasury official says Iran’s ballistic missile program poses “a significant threat to regional and global security”. “If they don’t, we will continue to enforce our sanctions and continue to have very strong differences”. Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, former Marine Amir Hekmati, pastor Saeed Abedini and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari were released from Iranian custody in exchange for seven Iranians who were not convicted of violent crimes but of violating the sanctions ban against Iran.

Iran has since further flouted expectations from the deal, by earlier this month publicly revealing its 14 underground “missile towns”, with the latest facility being shown on Iran media as convoys of the nuclear-capable Emad missiles were transferred in. A day later Iranian President Hassan Rouhani threatened that Tehran would accelerate the development of its arsenal, and a day after that Obama backed down and delayed the new sanctions.