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By Ray Sanchez, CNN

August 30, 2014 -- Updated 2129 GMT (0529 HKT)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a press conference in the capital Tehran earlier this summer.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday called new U.S. penalties against firms violating sanctions against Iran illegal and a crime against humanity, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

"We should resist such an aggression with all might and power," Rouhani said at a news conference in Tehran, according to the news agency. "We consider some of the sanctions crimes against humanity. Definitely, we will resist any sanction."

His remarks come one day after the United States imposed new penalties against more than 30 individuals and companies, including banks, accused of providing U.S. dollar banknotes to Iran, supporters of Iran's missile and nuclear programs and sellers of Iranian oil, according to a U.S. officials.

Several overseas airlines also were targeted for allegedly ferrying weapons and personnel to Syria in support of the Assad regime there.

A senior U.S. administration official said the actions were meant to demonstrate that the U.S. and partner countries were active in ongoing negotiations over Iran's nuclear program and will aggressively enforce existing sanctions.

"The message that we have conveyed has been very clear, which is that Iran can only obtain the sanctions relief, the comprehensive sanctions relief that it so desperately needs, by addressing the concerns with its nuclear program at the negotiating table," the senior administration official said.

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Iran: Sanctions crime against humanity