TEHRAN- China denounced on Thursday the latest illegal sanctions that the U.S. has placed on individuals and entities connected to Iran’s drone and missile programs.

Mao Ning, the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, expressed Beijing’s opposition to the U.S. sanctions, which were imposed on 11 individuals, eight entities, and one vessel in Iran, Hong Kong, China, and Venezuela for “enabling Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs.”

“We are always firmly opposed to illegal unilateral sanctions imposed by the U.S.,” the Chinese diplomat said.

“We will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens.”

In a press release on Thursday, the U.S. Treasury claimed that those designated have “materially supported” Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Defense Ministry “in the production and proliferation of missiles and UAVs.”

The U.S. prohibitions came on the same day that the UN Security Council ended a UN arms embargo against Iran based on 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Iranian military specialists and professionals have made significant progress in producing a wide range of domestic equipment in recent years, despite unlawful restrictions, enabling the armed services to become self-sufficient in the armaments industry.

Iranian authorities have issued several warnings that their nation will not think twice about bolstering its military might, which is only intended for deterrence.