Russia Tuesday dismissed the US sanctions against Iran as “illegitimate”, Xinhua reported.
The unilateral sanctions have no legal ground and will destroy “a healthy and positive basis for further progress to settle the Iranian nuclear issue”, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters at the Iranian embassy in Moscow.
Last week, the US Treasury Department announced actions targeting a number of companies and individuals around the world for evading sanctions.
Ryabkov said the sanctions contradict the normal advancement of international relations and hamper the progress of nuclear talks.
A six-month deal was reached last November between Iran and six world powers, in which Tehran agreed to halt part of its nuclear activities in exchange for limited sanctions relief.
Iran and the P51 group, namely five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany, will start talks on a final nuclear deal Feb 18 in Vienna, the capital and largest city of Austria.