Despite renewed hopes for reconciliation between Washington and Tehran following the Iran nuclear deal, the Obama administration is reportedly preparing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

In July, negotiations between�Iran and the P5+1 nations, including France, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and Germany, led to�a historic deal. Under the terms of�the deal, after�providing assurances that it was not enriching uranium to�pursue a nuclear weapon, international sanctions against�Iran would be gradually lifted.

But on�Wednesday, US officials, speaking on�condition of�anonymity, revealed that the US Treasury Department is prepared to�roll out�new sanctions against�companies and individuals not only in�Iran, but�also in�Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, according to�the Wall Street Journal.

The penalties are reportedly related to�Tehran�s test-firing of�two ballistic missiles, one in�October and another in�November. Washington views the launches as�a violation of�international law, though Tehran maintains that the tests were conducted in�according with�UN regulations, and the missiles are defensive only.
If approved, the sanctions would apply to�five government officials working in�Iran�s Ministry of�Defense for�Armed Forces Logistics.


The Obama administration is also targeting Mabrooka Trading Co. LLC, a UAE-based entity, as�well as�its founder, Hossein Pournaghshband, for�its alleged role in�aiding Iran�s ballistic missile program. Penalties would also apply to�Anhui Land Group Co, a Hong Kong-based subsidiary said to�be used by�Pournaghshband to�produce carbon-fiber material for�the missile program.

The sanctions would place these entities on�a business blacklist, and would freeze their assets in�US banks.

US officials stress that new sanctions are unrelated to�the nuclear accord, but�Iranian officials have warned in�recent months that new financial penalties would be seen by�Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as�a breach of�the agreement.

Tehran recently accused the United States of�violating the nuclear accord over�legislation passed by�the US Congress. New laws passed after�the San Bernardino shooting require any foreign national who has visited Iran or Syria to�obtain a visa before�entering the US. Tehran claims this move could harm Iranian business, and cut off�access to�foreign investment.

The Treasury Department�s decision comes as�the Obama administration prepares to�lift sanctions related to�Tehran�s nuclear program. The lifting of�those penalties was set to�begin next month, following�Iran�s shipment of�25,000 pounds of�uranium to�Russia, a sign that the government was abiding by�the accord.
By Sputnik