BFF-36 Russia says new US sanctions on Iran are ‘illegal’

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IRAN-US-SANCTION-RUSSIA

Russia says new US sanctions on Iran are ‘illegal’

MOSCOW, June 24, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Russia on Monday denounced as “illegal”
new economic sanctions that the United States is preparing to impose on Iran.

“We consider these sanctions illegal,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said
during a briefing.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have flared since Iranian forces on
Thursday shot down a US drone, the latest in a series of incidents including
attacks on tankers in sensitive Gulf waters.

US President Donald Trump on Friday called off a planned retaliatory strike
at the last minute, tamping down the threat of military action.

He said Washington would instead place “major additional sanctions on Iran
on Monday”.

Last year, Trump unilaterally pulled the US out of a landmark 2015 deal
meant to curb Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Russia is one of the world powers that negotiated the deal with Tehran and
has harshly criticised US moves to undermine the agreement.

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