The US Treasury Department announced Friday it is imposing sanctions on Iran following its recent missile tests.
John Smith, the Treasury Department’s acting sanctions chief, said in a statement: “Iran’s continued support for terrorism and development of its ballistic missile programme poses a threat to the region, to our partners worldwide and to the United States.”
President Donald Trump tweeted this morning: “Iran is playing with fire – they don’t appreciate how ‘kind’ President Obama was to them. Not me!”
Iran is playing with fire – they don't appreciate how "kind" President Obama was to them. Not me!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2017
Iran lashed out at President Trump saying it will not yield to “useless” American threats from “an inexperienced person”.
The measures are against 13 people and a dozen companies. Some of the newly sanctioned groups are based in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and China, and include members of the Islamic Republic’s Revolutionary Guards Corps.
They are the first Iran sanctions of Mr Trump’s new presidency, and come a day after he said “nothing is off the table” in dealing with the country.
The sanctions follow Iran’s missile tests earlier this week when it was reported Iran had tested both ballistic and cruise missiles. The cruise missile called “Sumar” is capable of carrying nuclear weapons. As a result, US national security adviser, Michael Flynn, said the administration was putting Iran “on notice” for its medium-range missile test.
The White House said the launch had violated a UN Security Council resolution proscribing missiles that could carry a nuclear device.
Responding to the missile launch on Wednesday, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted the following:
Really? pic.twitter.com/0FrgBaFdxo
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 31, 2017