DHAKA: The Obama administration is considering fresh punishments for Iran over its violation of international laws with respect to its ballistic missile activity.

A senior Obama administration official confirmed to The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday night.

Since brokering a landmark agreement with world powers in July over its nuclear program, Tehran has repeatedly tested intercontinental ballistic missile technologies, which the State Department say violate existing United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The technology, known as ICBMs, is designed primarily to carry nuclear payloads.

‘As we’ve said, 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 10 launch,’ the senior administration official told the Post.

‘We are considering various aspects related to additional designations, as well as evolving diplomatic work that is consistent with our national security interests.’

The official said the administration would keep Congress informed of any new policies in the works toward Iran.

A report earlier on Wednesday in the Wall Street Journal alleged that potential sanctions would target about 12 companies and individuals in Iran, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for their suspected role in developing Iran’s ballistic-missile program.

US officials have said the Treasury Department retains a right under July’s landmark nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers, including Washington, to blacklist Iranian entities suspected of involvement in missile development, the Journal said.

Iranian officials have said the country’s supreme leader would view such penalties as violating the nuclear accord.

‘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 10 launch,’ an administration official said earlier in the day.

BDST: 1232 HRS, DEC 31, 2015
RR