According TASS, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told reporters on Wednesday that Washington’s sanctions against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), just like other unilateral moves, are illegitimate and contravene international law.
"Our approach to unilateral sanctions in general is universal. We regard such methods as illegitimate and running counter to the norms of international law and the basic principles of interstate communication," the Russian deputy FM stressed.
"The Americans have turned sanctions into a key tool of their foreign policy,” he added.
The Russian diplomat's remarks came in reaction to the implementation of CAATSA, Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which expands US sanctions targeting Iran's missile program and enhances the legal basis for existing sanctions targeting the IRGC. It would also establish an additional US legal basis for sanctions targeting IRGC on the allegations of support for terrorism.
According to RIA Novosti, Ryabkov elsewhere noted the Wednesday visit of Russian President Putin to Iran aimed at taking part in a trilateral summit with his Iranian and Azeri counterparts, saying “Vladimir Putin’s visit to Tehran will follow the signing of new and significant agreements.”
In addition to the trilateral summit, Russian President Putin will meet with Leader of Islamic Revolution Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
According to Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, "Issues of economic cooperation will be chiefly discussed,” at the summit, noting a "a considerable increase in turnover in the Russian-Iranian-Azerbaijani triangle."
The Kremlin representative said that the negotiations will also focus on infrastructural projects, including construction of a main railway line - the western branch of the North-South Transport Corridor. In addition, the leaders will discuss cooperation in the energy sector and share opinions on current international problems.
MS