The White House is delaying imposing new financial sanctions on Iran for a recent ballistic missile test it conducted, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday evening. The new sanctions from the U.S. would have been the first since Iran reached a nuclear deal with the world powers earlier this year. As part of that deal, the U.S. agreed to ease sanctions in exchange for Iran curbing its nuclear capabilities.
While the tests may not have violated the nuclear pact, Obama administration officials have pledged to punish Iran, noting that the U.S. has the right to sanction Iran over human rights abuses, sponsorship of terrorism and ballistic missile activity.