Russia says US sanctions will hit ties

Russia accused Washington yesterday of breaking international law and weakening cooperation on Iran's nuclear programme after it imposed sanctions on companies accused of passing sensitive technology to Tehran.

A US State Department spokesman said the United States had imposed sanctions on firms in China, Russia, Sudan, Venezuela, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates for alleged sales of sensitive technology that could help Iran, North Korea and Syria develop weapons of mass destruction or missile systems.

Spokesman Gordon Duguid said he could not give specific details of the companies' activities because of "intelligence sensitivities."

One of the firms on the list was Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport.

"Russia will of course take this into account in practical affairs and relations with the United States such as in trade and economic and other spheres," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Mr Lavrov, speaking at a news briefing after talks with Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, said the US measures would not make Russia change its policies on Iran.

"All our trade and all of our military-technical cooperation with Iran is carried out in strict accordance with current international legal norms," Mr Lavrov said.

Western states suspect Iran of trying to develop a nuclear bomb. Tehran denies this, saying its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only.

Russia has given limited backing to UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme, but says there is no evidence Iran is seeking nuclear weapons.

A Russian foreign ministry statement later said the sanctions had damaged the United States' position in the group of six countries - Russia, Britain, the United States, China, France and Germany - involved in talks with Iran over its nuclear programme.

"It is clear that such actions undermine cooperation within the framework of the 'Six'," the statement said.

"It's time for the United States to decide if it is ready to continue cooperation within the 'Six' on the basis of the agreed approaches."

Mr Duguid said the sanctions took effect on August 12. They were published in the US Federal Register http:/www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/ (page 63226) last Wednesday.

Under the sanctions, which will remain in effect until September 2010, no US government agency may enter into any agreement with the organisations named.

Sanctions were imposed on 13 organizations, including China Xinshidai Company, China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Corporation, Huazhong CNC as well as Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport and the Venezuelan Military Industries Company.