Bush agrees to lift warplane sanctions: Russia

Hanoi, Nov 19: Russia said today US President George W Bush had decided to lift sanctions, imposed for selling restricted items to Iran, on Russian warplane manufacturer Sukhoi.

''This question was discussed. Bush said that, after an additional examination of the problem, a decision was made to lift sanctions from Sukhoi,'' Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after talks between Bush and President Vladimir Putin.

In August, the United States announced sanctions against seven firms from Russia, India, North Korea and Cuba for selling restricted items to Iran, which Washington fears is trying to make nuclear weapons.

Asked about sanctions against Russian state export agency Rosoboronexport, Lavrov told reporters in Hanoi: ''We are still expecting an American decision on the issue.'' At the time, the Kremlin branded the sanctions as ''an unfriendly act'' and said they could have negative consequences for relations between the United States and Russia.

REUTERS