New sanctions as Obama celebrates return of prisoners

Teheran says Washington's move illegitimate, points to its arms sales to the Middle East

The United States on Sunday imposed sanctions over Iran's ballistic missile testing even as US President Barack Obama hailed the release of five US citizens from Teheran's custody and the implementation of a nuclear deal he hopes will stand among his lasting foreign policy achievements.

Obama pledged to counter vigorously Iran's "destabilizing behavior" across the Middle East even while the US engages with the Islamic Republic. After the US citizens had been freed, Obama announced economic sanctions against 11 individuals and entities as a result of a ballistic missile launch in October.