The US has announced new sanctions on Iran's ballistic missile programme in response to the country's 'malign' activities across the Middle East.

Sanctions have been imposed by the US Government on 18 entities and individuals involved in ballistic missile development and military procurement.

The sanctioned parties also supported Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) throughout its development of unmanned aerial vehicles and military equipment, as well as its acquisition of electronic components.

The entities include the IRGC Aerospace Force Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization (ASF SSJO), which was involved in Iranian ballistic missile research and flight test launches.

Furthermore, the US imposed sanctions on the IRGC Research and Self Sufficiency Jehad Organization (RSSJO), which is responsible for the research and development of ballistic missiles.

"Iran continues to support terrorist groups such as Hizballah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad that threaten Israel and stability in the Middle East."

US Department of State Spokesperson Heather Nauert said: “Iran continues to support terrorist groups such as Hizballah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad that threaten Israel and stability in the Middle East. Iran has maintained its steadfast support for the Assad regime, despite Assad’s atrocities against his own people.

“Iran also continues to provide the Houthi rebels in Yemen with advanced weaponry that threatens freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, has been used to attack Saudi Arabia, and is prolonging the Yemen conflict.”

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also sanctioned seven entities and five individuals for supporting Iran’s military procurement or the IRGC.

The government is currently reviewing the US's policy toward Iran.

Image: Sejil 2 is a family of Iranian solid-fuelled ballistic missiles. Photo: courtesy of Wikipedia / Vahid alpha.