Iran says any US sanctions on missiles illegal

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

The officials said the Obama administration remains committed to combating Iran’s missile program and that sanctions being developed by the U.S. Treasury Department remain on the table.

The Wall Street Journal said the planned U.S. Treasury Department sanctions cover two networks linked to Iran that are developing the country’s missile program and include numerous people in those networks.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Thursday denied its naval forces had test-fired rockets close to a USA aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S Truman, in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

“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.

After a last minute delay by the White House of new sanctions on Iran connected with its ballistic missile program, a top Iranian official wrote on Friday that Tehran will develop missiles with a range of 5,000 kilometers – if they are imposed.

Once it does, Iran will still be “called upon” not to undertake any ballistic missiles work created to deliver nuclear weapons for a period of up to eight years, according to a Security Council resolution adopted in July, right after the nuclear deal.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was reached with Iran after negotiations with the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany.

The alleged incident comes after Iran and world powers led by the United States agreed a landmark deal to limit the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.

A senior USA official told the AP on Wednesday that America is considering designating a number of additional targets for sanctions related to Iran’s ballistic missile program. Iran insists the the ballistic-missile tests did not violate the nuclear agreement. “If our administration can not impose consequences for ballistic missile launches now, when sanctions and a clear United Nations ban are still in place, I have no confidence it will enforce the JCPOA or penalize future launches when sanctions are lifted”.

“Any steps taken outside the agreement are unacceptable to Iran, and Iran will take its own steps in response where necessary”, Jaber Ansari said Monday referring to the legislation.

The Iranian missiles under development boast much improved accuracy over the current generation, which experts say is likely to improve their effectiveness with conventional warheads.