Reports: US Preparing New Sanctions on Iran Over Missile Test
- VOA News
- Dec 31, 2015
- 2 min read
A general view shows the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman at an undisclosed position in the Mediterranean Sea.
The United States is preparing new sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile program, U.S. media reports say.
The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that about 12 companies and individuals in Iran, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates would be targeted for allegedly helping Iran develop the missiles.
The U.S. said Iran test-fired the missiles in October and November, and that the October launch violated a U.N. Security Council resolution banning Iran from developing a ballistic missile.
U.S. experts said the only purpose of the missile would be to deliver a nuclear warhead.
Iran has said imposing sanctions would violate the nuclear agreement signed with the United States and five other world powers earlier this year. The U.S. disputes this.
Also Wednesday, the United States accused Iran of conducting a "highly provocative" missile test last week near an American aircraft carrier passing through international shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. military officials said missiles launched Saturday passed within 1,500 meters of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. The officials, who spoke to Western media under condition of anonymity, said Iran's navy gave a radio announcement less than an hour before firing the missiles, telling ships to steer clear of the area.
Several other vessels were in the area, including the destroyer USS Buckley, a French frigate and merchant ships.
None of the missiles were fired at any of the ships, which did not need to take any evasive actions.
"While most interactions between Iranian forces and the U.S. Navy are professional, safe and routine, this event was not and runs contrary to efforts to ensure freedom of navigation and maritime safety in the global commons," U.S. Central Command spokesman Kyle Raines said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
The strategic Persian Gulf waterway, which sees nearly a third of all oil traded by sea pass through it, has been the scene of past confrontations between the U.S. and Iran, including a one-day naval battle in 1988.
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