Bahrain Mirror - AFP: The United States State Department did not impose fresh sanctions against Iran's nuclear program on Wednesday, in a continuation of its 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, despite President Trump's criticism to the deal made when Obama was in office.

The Treasury said it had added two Iranian defense officials and an Iranian business to its sanctions lists.

The decision, which came two days before Iran heads to the polls to vote for a new president, is thought to be a boon for President Rouhani, who originally approved the nuclear deal with the US.

But Washington's top diplomat for the Middle East, Stuart Jones, said the department had told Congress that "the United States continues to waive sanctions" that were lifted under the Iran deal.

Nevertheless, his statement added, the Treasury Department will apply new targeted sanctions on individuals and firms helping Iran's banned ballistic missile program.

"Iran continues to pursue missile-related technologies capable of delivering a nuclear weapon," he said, noting that the missile program is in breach of internationally backed UN Security Council resolutions.

"The State Department will continue to partner with our colleagues at the Department of the Treasury to ensure our national security in the face of Iranian threats," he added.

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