US announces new sanctions over missile programme

The US has slapped fresh economic sanctions on Iran, targeting 18 individuals and entities for supporting what it said were "illicit Iranian actors or transnational criminal activity".

The US is "deeply" concerned about "Iran's malign activities across the Middle East which undermine regional stability, security, and prosperity," including support for armed groups, the Syrian regime and Houthi rebels in Yemen, she said. Iran's parliament retaliated by voting for extra funding for the missile program and its foreign ministry said it will impose its own sanctions against Americans.

The US treasury department said those sanctioned had backed Iran's military or Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by developing drones and military equipment, producing and maintaining boats, and procuring electronic components.