International

Iran has blasted fresh US bans over its defensive missile program, saying it will retaliate by adding nine American individuals and corporations to its sanctions list over their human rights violations.

In a Thursday statement, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said the new US administration is seeking to undermine the “positive outcome” of the 2015 nuclear deal on the Iranian nuclear program by pressuring Tehran over “baseless accusations” in others areas than its nuclear program.

Iran “condemns the US government’s malintent in its attempts to reduce the positive effects of the implementation of that country’s commitments under the JCPOA by adding natural and legal individuals to the list of its transnational, unilateral and illegal sanctions.”
     He was using an acronym to refer to the Iran deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

On Wednesday, the US Department of Treasury extended sanctions relief for Iran called for under the JCPOA. However, it imposed sanctions on two Iranian defense officials, an Iranian company and members of a China-based network for supporting Iran’s ballistic missile program.