US imposes sanctions on Iran space agencies

The United States imposed sanctions on Iran’s three space agencies on Tuesday, the Treasury Department said, as Washington ramps up pressure over Tehran’s nuclear program, reports Reuters.

The US Treasury targeted the Iran Space Agency, Iran Space Research Center and the Astronautics Research Institute, according to a statement on its website.

The United States has warned Iran against rocket launches, fearing the technology used to put satellites in orbit could help it develop the ballistic missile capability needed to launch nuclear warheads, though Tehran denies its activity is a cover for such development.

READ: US calls on Iran to halt space launches that defy UN resolution

On Friday, President Donald Trump posted on Twitter a photo of what appeared to be the site of a failed Iranian satellite launch, raising questions about whether he had disclosed US surveillance secrets.

Trump withdrew from a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, saying it did not go far enough.