Russia says not bound by US sanctions on Iran
PRESS TV (Iran)Mon Apr 14, 2014 5:53AM GMT
http://presstv.com/detail/2014/04/14/358483/russia-not-bound-by-us-bans-on-iran/

A top Russian official has dismissed the US threats against the Kremlin over
its trade ties with Iran, saying Moscow sees no reason to drop economic
deals with Tehran.

“We are having conversations with Iran on trade and economic relations. They
have not been completed. We don't see reasons why we should give up the
development of economic relations with Iran. We are not violating any
international sanctions by such actions,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
Vasili Nebenzya said on Sunday.

Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Iran and Russia are close to
sealing a USD 20-billion oil-for-commodities deal.

Under the deal, which is yet to be finalized, Russia will buy 500,000
barrels of Iranian oil per day in return for goods.

On April 8, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington could impose
sanctions if Russia and Iran move forward with the oil deal.

Also this month, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said the Islamic
Republic is determined to raise the volume of its economic transactions with
Russia under long-term deals.

The possible energy barter deal between Tehran and Moscow has also provoked
an angry reaction from some US senators, who have threatened to reinstate
the anti-Iran sanctions eased under an interim nuclear deal signed between
Tehran and the six world powers -- the United States, France, Britain,
Russia, China and Germany -- last November.

Nebenzya further said that the sanctions imposed by the United States
against Tehran do not mean that trade and economic cooperation between
Moscow and Tehran is impossible.


“There are unilateral sanctions of the USA against Iran which we don't
regard ourselves bound with while the calls to give up the development of
relations with Iran greatly look like competitive rivalry,” he said.

The Russian diplomat went on to say that “while we are being urged to give
up the development of trade and economic relations with Iran and deals that
some call oil-for-goods, Western emissaries have hasted to Tehran,
apparently fearing to be late to 'the cutting of the pie' after sanctions
against Iran are cancelled.”

YH/NN/HMV