Those targeted by the Treasury Department's action include various agents, companies and associates involved in procuring ballistic missile technology for Iran. Iranians, Lebanese, Chinese and Emirati individuals and companies also are now blacklisted from doing any business in the United States or with American citizens.

John E. Smith, the Treasury Department's acting sanctions chief, said in a statement.

"Iran's continued support for terrorism and development of its ballistic missile programme poses a threat to the region, to our partners worldwide and to the United States.

"We will continue to actively apply all available tools, including financial sanctions, to address this behaviour."

The sanctions are the first against Iran in Donald Trump's new presidency, reflecting his desire to take a tougher stance toward Tehran.

Throughout his campaign, Trump accused the Obama administration of being weak on Iran and vowed to crack down if elected.

None of the new sanctions appear to reverse the Obama administration's suspension of sanctions as part of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Nevertheless, the action will almost surely increase tensions with Iran.

Iran has insisted that new sanctions violate the deal and that it has the right to conduct ballistic missile tests now that its nuclear programme has been sharply curtailed.