(FILE PHOTO)A Shahab-3 long range missile (L) and Zolfaghar missiles (R) are displayed during a rally marking al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day in Tehran on June 23, 2017. (AFP PHOTO)

TEHRAN, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran has slammed the new U.S. sanctions over the country's missile program as "hostile."

In a statement, the foreign ministry said the move to impose new economic sanctions against Tehran was "useless," and that Iran pledged to show proper response, Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday.

"Iran will, in turn, impose new sanctions against a number of other American individuals and entities that have taken hostile steps against the Iranian nation and other Muslim nations in the region," the statement read.

The United States slapped Tuesday new sanctions on 18 entities and individuals linked to Iran's ballistic missile program and other non-nuclear activities.

The U.S. officials have said Iran's ballistic missile launches are threats to the U.S. interests in the world.

The Iranian officials, however, unanimously call the missile tests the "inalienable right" of the country to boost deterrent power.