AFP GETTY

The United States sanctioned 13 individuals and 12 companies under US Iran sanctions authority, days after the White House had put Iran "on notice" over a ballistic missile test and other activities.

In a statement on its website, the US Treasury listed the sanctioned individuals and entities, some of which are based in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and China.

The sanctions also include members of the Islamic Republics Revolutionary Guard Corps.

In retaliation, Iransaid it will impose restrictions on US individuals and companies helping regional terrorist groups.

Iran says the sanctions by the US Treasury are in violation of US legal commitments and the UN Security Council that endorsed the nuclear deal.

Iran is playing with fire

Donald Trump

The US Treasury said the sanctions are part of the Treasurys ongoing efforts to counter Iranian malign activity abroad that is outside the scope of the 2015 nuclear deal.

It said in a statement that the sanctions were "fully consistent" with US commitments under the Iran nuclear deal reached in 2015, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Earlier today President Donald Trump warned: Iran is playing with fire - they don't appreciate how 'kind' President Obama was to them. Not me!

The US president has refused to rule out military action after Iran tested a new ballistic missile.

The new penalties cover areas that remain under sanctions even with the 2015 nuclear deal in place, such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Iran's ballistic missile program.

Among those sanctioned on were companies, individuals, and brokers the US Treasury said support a trade network run by an Iranian businessman, Abdollah Asgharzadeh.

The US Treasury said he supported Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, which the United States has said is a subsidiary of an Iranian entity that runs Iran's ballistic missile program.

A Lebanon-based network run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the elite military body that is also powerful in Iranian politics and the economy was also sanctioned.

Getty Images

1 of 7

A US senior administration official warned the sanctions are just initial steps in response to Iranian provocative behaviour.

The official said the US will continue to respond to Irans behaviour at an appropriate level to pressure Tehran to change its behaviour.

The official added Iran should not be surprised by the sanctions issued today.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the timing of the Iran sanctions was in reaction to recent events but had been under consideration before.

He added the sanctions make it clear the Iran nuclear deal was not in the best interests of the US.

Mr Spicer said: These kinds of sanctions don't happen quickly but I think the timing of them was clearly in reaction to what we've seen over the last couple days.

We knew we had these options available to us because they had been worked through the process ... They were in the pipeline.

White House national security adviser Michael Flynn said"the days of turning a blind eye to Iran's hostile and belligerent actions" are over.

Mr Flynn said: "The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate Iran's provocations that threaten our interests," National Security Advisor Michael Flynn said.

"The days of turning a blind eye to Iran's hostile and belligerent actions toward the United States and the world community are over.

AFP

But Iran has rejected the sanctions,Iranian state TV quoted a Foreign Ministry statement saying: "The new sanctions ... are not compatible with America's commitments and resolution 2231 of the U.N. Security Council that endorsed the nuclear deal reached between Iran and six powers.

As tensions escalate between Washington and Tehran, two US officials confirmed the US has placed a Navy destroyer off the coast of Yemen to protect waterways from Houthi militia aligned with Iran.

The USS Cole arrived in the vicinity of the Bab al-Mandab Strait off southwestern Yemen where it will carry out patrols including escorting vessels, according to US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to Reuters.

The armed Houthi movement attacked a Saudi warship off the western coast of Yemen, causing an explosion that killed two crew members this week,amid Pentagon fears the Saudi warship may have been meant to target a US battleship.

US military vessels have carried out routine operations in the region in the past.

But the officials said this movement is part of an increased presence aimed at protecting shipping from the Iran-allied Houthis.

The officials said the decision to move the USS Cole was made before Mr Trumps comments about military action against Iran.

Mr Trump told reporters nothing was off the table when asked if he would consider using military force to respond to Tehran.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that Iran was unmoved by US threats.

Every recent US president, including Democrat Barack Obama, has said that US military options were not off the table to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

The president's national security adviser Michael Flynn confirmed earlier this week the US was putting Iran "on notice" for its "destabilising activity".

Washington has claimed Irans missile test defied a UN Security Council resolution that called on Iran not to undertake any activity designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

GETTY

GETTY

Iranian defence minister Hossein Dehghan confirmed a medium-range ballistic missile was launched and exploded after travelling 630 miles.

He said the test did not violate the UN Security Council resolution.

German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel said today Irans missile test is a clear violation of the UN resolution and said he understands Washington's reaction to the test.

But Mr Gabriel said the test had no impact on the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated between Iran and six world powers.

He said: It is also clear that the missile test has no impact on the nuclear agreement, and that we continue to support the implementation of this agreement, and that the United States does not intend to question that agreement now.

The row comes as a 90-day US ban on visas for migrants or visitors from Muslim-majority countries Iran, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and Libya.

Continued here:

Start of WW3? Trump imposes sanctions on nuclear power Iran and deploys US Navy warship - Express.co.uk