Iran has more missiles than it can hide

US officials have said the Treasury Department retains a right under the nuclear deal to blacklist Iranian entities suspected of involvement in missile development.

In a series of three messages from his personal account he said “in response to new United States #sanctions planned against Iran’s ballistic missile program” he had “ordered the Defense Minister to expedite the program”.

But The Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday the decision had been delayed.

The defiant comments are a challenge for the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama as the United States and European Union plan to dismantle almost all worldwide sanctions against Iran under the breakthrough nuclear agreement reached in July.

Iran has test-fired two ballistic missiles since the July accord, officials told the Journal.

“As the United States seems to plan to include the names of new individuals and firms in its previous list of cruel sanctions in line with its hostile policies and illegitimate and illegal meddling in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s right to reinvigorate its defense power, the program for the production of the Armed Forces’ needed missiles is required to continue more speedily and seriously”, said Rouhani’s decree, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency.

Rouhani criticised Thursday the apparent U.S. moves, saying Iran s domestic defence had never been within the remit of the nuclear talks. Iran has threatened that sanctions against its ballistic missile program would also result in the termination of the nuclear deal. Iran says the resolution 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.

“We are considering various aspects related to additional designations, as well as evolving diplomatic work that is consistent with our national security interests, and as such we will not be announcing any additional designations today”, the White House email said.

Though the rockets were not fired toward any warship, their proximity to them and several commercial ships – reportedly around 1,500 yards (metres) – was “highly provocative”, said the official, who was not authorised to be named.

“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. Also on implementation day, “roughly $100 billion in Iranian assets will be unfrozen, and the country will be free to sell oil on world markets and operate in the world financial system,”.