Simorgh rocket is launched and tested at the Imam Khomeini Space Centre, Iran, in this handout photo released by Tasnim News Agency on July 27, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The United States is imposing new ballistic missile sanctions on Iran in response to its "continued provocative actions" including a rocket launch on Thursday, said U.S. Treasury Department on Friday.

The sanctions targeted six Iran-based subsidiaries of Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, a company central to Iran's ballistic missile program, said Treasury in a statement.

On Thursday, Iran launched a space vehicle which used technologies "closely related to those of an intercontinental ballistic missile," representing a "threatening step by Iran," according to the statement.

"The U.S. government will continue to aggressively counter Iran's ballistic missile-related activity," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in the statement.

As a result of sanctions, the six companies' U.S. property would be frozen and U.S. citizens were prohibited from engaging in any transaction with them.

Foreign financial institutions were also warned of possible punitive measure if engaging with those entities.

Tensions have been growing between Washington and Tehran in the past months.

On Thursday, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill that will slap tougher sanctions on three countries including Iran.