New US Sanctions on Iran Threaten Nuclear Deal, Russia Warns

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RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED 14.12.2013

Expansion of an American blacklist against Iran could seriously damage efforts to enforce an international agreement with Tehran over its nuclear program, Russia’s Foreign Ministry warned Friday.

The United States imposed sanctions Thursday on an additional seven companies and five individuals suspected of involvement in Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program. Assets held in the US by the companies or individuals were frozen and American companies barred from trading with them.

Iran, which denies the existence of such a program, accused the US of breaking the spirit of the agreement reached in Geneva last month to restrict its nuclear activities in return for an easing of crippling economic sanctions.

Moscow criticized Washington’s actions, saying that increased sanctions did not strengthen confidence in the negotiation process between Iran and the Group of Six nations, including Russia and the US, to reach a final agreement over the nuclear issue.

“An expansion of sanctions might seriously complicate the implementation of the Geneva agreement,” said Maria Zakharova, deputy spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Iran agreed in November to restrict its nuclear program, cease production of highly enriched uranium and allow international inspectors into its nuclear sites. In return, Iran would receive an easing of sanctions worth some $7 billion.

Topics: Russia, USA, Iran

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