The Obama administration is preparing to sanction companies and individuals that have supported Iran’s ballistic missile program, a move that could put this year’s historic nuclear deal in jeopardy, according to a report.
The sanctions levied by the Treasury Department would affect nearly a dozen entities in Iran, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
At the same time, the administration is preparing to lift sanctions on Iran next month for its early compliance with the details of the nuclear accord, including shipping a large amount of its enriched uranium stockpile to Russia.
U.S. officials have said they reserve the right to sanction Iran for its missile development, support of terrorism and human rights violations, regardless of the nuclear deal. But Iranian officials have warned that they would view any additional sanctions as a violation of the accord.
Iran has conducted two ballistic missiles tests since reaching the nuclear deal in July, one in October and one in November.
