The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) at the US Treasury Department announced on Tuesday that three of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s space centers named Iranian Space Agency, Aerospace Research Institute, and Iranian Space Research Center, have been added to the list of sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

While announcing the news that the Iranian Space Agency has been sanctioned by the US, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: “The United States will not allow Iran to use the space program as a cover for its ballistic missile program.”

Secretary Pompeo’s statement mentions the explosion at the launchpad of the Nahid Satellite rocket as an example of missile testing under the guise of sending satellites to space and an urgent threat that is used by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Previously, President Trump announced that the United States had no role in the launchpad explosion in Imam Khomeini Space Center in Semnan province.

Ali Rabiei, the spokesperson for the government of Iran on Monday confirmed the explosion at the Imam Khomeini Space Center and said the explosion had occurred before the satellite was transferred to the platform.