The Obama administration is preparing to sanction nearly a dozen companies and individuals in Iran, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates for their alleged role in developing Iran’s ballistic-missile program, according to U.S. officials. The planned actions by the Treasury Department would mark the first U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran since the country came to a nuclear agreement with global powers in July. Iranian officials have warned the White House in recent months that any such financial penalties would be viewed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei as a violation of the nuclear accord. Senior U.S. official have said the Treasury retained a right under the agreement to blacklist Iranian entities allegedly involved in missile development as well as those that support international terrorism and human-rights abuses. Officials view those activities as separate from the nuclear deal. The Iranian government didn’t comment on the possible new sanctions. Recently, […]