Iran defies US sanctions, approves funds for production of more missiles

In retaliation to new sanctions imposed by the United States, the Iranian parliament has given approval for a bill to boost spending on Tehran’s missile programme and the elite Revolutionary Guards.

According to the state broadcaster IRIB, lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the outlines of the bill to “counter America’s terrorist and adventurist actions” as some chanted “Death to America”.

Read also: US, China, S’Korea okay UN sanctions slammed on N’Korea

Recall that hours after it was slammed with fresh sanctions by the US in response to its launch of a satellite-carrying rocket into space a month ago, Iran vowed to press ahead with its missile programme, saying it will continue with “full power”.

Describing the fresh US sanctions as “an effort to weaken the nuclear deal”, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Bahram Ghasemi, said that Tehran considers the US move as “hostile, reprehensible and unacceptable”.

The US accused Iran of violating UN convention and announced ballistic missiles sanctions targeting six Iranian subsidiaries of the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, which the US treasury department says is “central” to Iran’s ballistic missiles programme.

 

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