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U.S. Preparing Fresh Iran Sanctions over Ballistic Missile Program
(Wall Street Journal) Jay Solomon - The U.S. Treasury Department is preparing to impose financial sanctions on nearly a dozen companies and individuals in Iran, Hong Kong and the UAE for their role in developing Iran's ballistic missile program. Iranian officials have warned the White House that any such financial penalties would be viewed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a violation of the nuclear accord. Senior U.S. officials have said the Treasury retained a right under the agreement to blacklist Iranian entities involved in missile development, as well as those that support international terrorism and human-rights abuses. Officials view those activities as separate from the nuclear deal. "We've been looking for some time at options for additional actions related to Iran's ballistic missile program based on our continued concerns about its activities, including the October 10th [missile] launch," a senior U.S. official said Wednesday.