US hits Iran with new sanctions The Obama administration is hitting Iran with more sanctions designed to hinder the country's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The Treasury Department announced new financial sanctions Thursday. They've been imposed on 11 companies affiliated with the Iranian defense ministry, Revolutionary Guard Corps and national shipping line as well as a university, all for actions they took to support the programs. Treasury is also slapping penalties on four men, including an Austrian national and three Iranians, for similar activity. Several of the firms are subject to existing U.S. and European sanctions. Treasury has also identified several front companies operating on behalf of the sanctioned entities, including energy firms based in Hong Kong, Switzerland and Malaysia.