The White House says Iran is lashing out at the world to “distract attention” from the damage that international sanctions are having at home.

Iran is claiming Wednesday that it has achieved two major advances in its program to master production of nuclear fuel, a defiant move in response to increasingly tough Western sanctions over its disputed nuclear program.

Iranstate media also reports steps to cut oil exports to six European countries in retaliation for new European Union sanctions, including a ban on Iranian oil.

White House press secretary Jay Carney says such “defiant acts” show that Iran’s leaders are under pressure.

The US also downplayed Iran’s latest announcement of nuclear progress, saying Tehran’s reported advances were “not terribly new and not terribly impressive.”

“We frankly don’t see a lot new here. This is not big news. In fact it seems to have been hyped,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.

Also Wednesday, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz said that the “Iranian Ayatollahs regime is in the midst of an arms race and is trying to hit Israeli and Western targets around the world.”

He added, “We are committed to staying vigilant and watchful, ready to face any challenge.”

READ MORE: YNET