US may be set to impose new sanctions on Iranian firms

The US may announce fresh sanctions on almost a dozen companies and individuals linked to Iran's ballistic missile programme, in what some observers believe may test the durability of the recent international deal reached in Vienna which was designed to curb the country's programme to develop nuclear weapons.

Treasury officials in Washington DC told The Wall Street Journal the new measures, which were set to be unveiled this week - would be targeted at firms operating out of Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

Five Iranian officials working at Tehran's military logistics division and its subsidiaries would also be subject to the new sanctions, according to the WSJ.

The news came amid what some have described as sabre-rattling by Iran after its forces 'tested' un-guided rockets last week in close proximity to the US aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman and French warships in the Persian Gulf.

It also followed two test-firings of ballistic missiles since the July accord reached in Vienna, one in October and a second in November.

A panel at the United Nations had already ruled the October launch was in violation of a UN Security Council resolution, the Journal said.

That led the Obama administration to issue a warning it might use unilateral sanctions to retaliate.

In return, Iranian officials have warned that any such measures would be seen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a violation of the nuclear accord.

According to the WSJ, US officials were also alleging that Tehran had sent technicians in the last two years to North Korea to work together on developing an 80-tonne rocket booster.