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Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned the United States for imposing new sanctions on Iranian individuals, declaring it will reciprocate the move and impose sanctions on a number of Americans.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Trump administration announced new sanctions targeting Iran’s ballistic missile program and support for terrorists.

The sanctions designate 18 entities and individuals supporting Iran’s ballistic missile program, Iran’s military and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and an Iranian transnational criminal organization, the State Department said.

The move came after the administration certified to Congress that Iran is complying with the nuclear deal signed in 2015 with world powers, but would face consequences for breaching its “spirit."

In a statement quoted by Iran’s IRNA news agency, the Foreign Ministry in Tehran accused the Trump administration of imposing the new sanctions “to compensate for its failure to persuade its European allies into withdrawing from the nuclear deal.”

“The Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns Washington’s contemptible and worthless move to add new names to the list of its illegal sanctions, and will reciprocate the move by imposing sanctions on a number of American natural and legal persons who have taken steps against the Iranian people and other Muslim nations in the region. The names of these individuals will be announced soon,” the statement added.

The 2015 deal struck with Iran by the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany is aimed at preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon by imposing time-limited restrictions and strict international monitoring on its nuclear program.

In return, Tehran received relief from some of the international economic sanctions that were imposed on it.

During the presidential election campaign, President Donald Trump was highly critical of the Iran nuclear deal, saying it was “disastrous” and pledging to annul it.

After he was sworn in as president, Trump described the nuclear deal as “the worst deal I’ve ever seen negotiated” and accused the Islamic Republic of “disrespecting” the United States because of the deal.

While lifting nuclear-linked sanctions, the United States maintains sanctions related to Iran's ballistic missile program, human rights record and its support for international terrorism.