Russia slams US sanctions against arms firms: Ifax

Moscow, Jan 26: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today that US sanctions against Russian arms firms for weapons sales to Iran were unfounded, Interfax news agency reported.

Lavrov, speaking in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, said Russia's delivery of TOR-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran had breached no international laws and that Moscow had asked for an explanation from Washington.

''These are defensive, normal weapons not nuclear (weapons),'' Lavrov said, Interfax reported. ''We expressed bewilderment at the sanctions that were imposed as they were unfounded and we have asked for an explanation.'' Senior Russian officials said this month that Russia had delivered the missile systems to Iran. Washington imposed sanctions last year on Russian arms companies because of arms sales to Iran and Syria.

Russian arms sales and nuclear cooperation with Iran have strained relations with Washington, which suspects Tehran of using a nuclear power programme to cover the development of nuclear weapons.

Reuters