WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Treasury announced Tuesday sanctions to be imposed on five Iranian entities for alleged ties to Iran's nuclear and missile programs.

    The five entities are identified as the Nuclear Research Center for Agriculture and Medicine, the Esfahan National Fuel Research and Production Center, Jabber Ibn Hayan, Safety Equipment Procurement Company and Joza Industrial Company.

    "These five nuclear and missile entities have been used by Iran to hide its illicit conduct and further its dangerous nuclear ambitions," the Treasury said in a statement.

    As a result, U.S. citizens are prohibited from doing business with these blacklisted entities and any possible assets of the entities in the United States will be frozen.

    The United States has accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. However, Iran has insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.