Iran announced Thursday plans to sanction nine U.S. individuals and companies in response to what it called an "unacceptable, illegal" decision by the United States to impose new sanctions in connection with Iran's ballistic missile program.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry statement said those sanctioned violated human rights through direct or indirect links to Israeli government crimes in Palestinian territories or by supporting terrorists. It said their names would be announced later.

The U.S. Treasury announced the new sanctions Wednesday on two Iranian defense officials, an Iranian company and members of a China-based network. "These sanctions target Iranian officials as well as a China-based network that are providing support to Syria and supplying items to further Iran's ballistic weapons program," said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. "The United States will remain vigilant when it comes to Iran."

The top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, Stuart Jones, said Iran's missile program is in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

伊朗星期四宣布，计划对9个美国个人和公司实施制裁，以此回应所称美国做出的“不可接受和非法”的决定。美国决定实施与伊朗弹道导弹项目相关的新制裁。

伊朗外交部一份声明说，那些被制裁的美国个人和公司，通过直接或者间接与以色列政府在巴勒斯坦领土上的犯罪行为有关，或者支持恐怖分子，侵犯了人权。

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