WASHINGTON: The Obama administration is preparing to impose its first financial sanctions on Iran since it forged a landmark nuclear agreement in July, presenting major test for whether Tehran will stay committed to the deal.
Iranian officials have warned the White House in recent months 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 allegedly 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.
Iran has test fired two ballistic missiles since the July agreement, one in October and a second in November, according to U.S. officials.
Iran acknowledges its missile program but says it doesn’t violate U.N. law and is strictly for defensive purposes.
Tension between the U.S. and Iran heated up this week after the Pentagon rebuked Tehran for testing “unguided rockets” near an American aircraft carrier and French warships in the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. (WSJ)