The Trump administration announced new unilateral sanctions targeting Iran’s ballistic missile industries on Thursday, the first to be imposed since protests broke out in the country on December 28.

It comes as US Secretary of Defence James Mattis made first comments on the protests, saying his country has “a big issue” with the government in Tehran, but none with the Iranian people.

Mr Mattis was speaking to reporters at the Pentagon on Thursday just as the US State Department released a second statement in support of those protesting in Iran, indicating that it has “ample authorities to hold accountable those who commit violence against protesters, contribute to censorship, or steal from the people of Iran.”

The US treasury department in a statement said the sanctions “illustrate the Iranian Regime’s Prioritisation of Destabilising Weapons Systems at the Expense of its People” and targeted five Iran-based entities “subordinate to a key element of Iran’s ballistic missile program.” These are: Shahid Kharrazi Industries, Shahid Sanikhani Industries, Shahid Moghaddam Industries, Shahid Eslami Research Centre, and Shahid Shustari Industries. These industries were designated according to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382 prohibiting any dealings with them from US entities and threatening sanctions on foreign financial institutions that deal with those designated.

At least 21 people have died since from the unrest, according to reports coming from Iran.

In his press gaggle with reporters, Mr Mattis asked about the continued protests across Iran, said "We do not have an issue with the Iranian people. We, the American people, do not have an issue with the Iranian people. We've got a big issue with the Iranian authoritarian regime, and it appears that there's an awful lot of Iranian people who have an issue with it as well. Because even after squashing the Green revolution years ago, they obviously didn't remove the irritants and the dissatisfaction."

The statement echoes the Trump administration policy of drawing a wedge between the Iranian people and their government.

The State Department reiterated on Thursday its support for the protesters.

“The Iranian people have been expressing their desire for dignified treatment, an end to corruption, improved transparency, and increased economic opportunities” it said.

“The protesters have also demanded that the regime stop diverting the nation’s wealth to fund military adventurism abroad” the statement added, in reference to slogans against Iran’s role in Syria, Gaza and Lebanon that were heard at the demonstrations.