(3 Feb 2017) A senior Iranian cleric said on Friday that Iran will not suspend its nuclear missile programme in a "world of wolves".
Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, who is close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also said Iran's missile tests do not violate the 2015 nuclear deal, which eased economic sanctions on the country in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear programme.
The administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing to levy new sanctions on Iran, US officials say, in the first punitive action since the White House put the country "on notice" after it test-fired a ballistic missile.
Up to two dozen Iranian individuals, companies and possibly government agencies could be penalised as part of the move, said the officials and others with knowledge of the decision.
The individuals weren't authorised to discuss the unannounced sanctions publicly and insisted on anonymity.
The sanctions, coming in the first weeks of Trump's term, reflect his administration's desire to take a strong stance toward Iran from the start.
Throughout his campaign, Trump accused the Obama administration of being insufficiently tough on Iran and vowed to crack down if elected.
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