WASHINGTON — A top U.S. official said an oil-for-goods swap between Russia and Iran would not go ahead for now after the U.S. raised concerns with both Tehran and Moscow, warning it could be subject to U.S. sanctions.
A Reuters report in January revealed that Iran and Russia were negotiating a $1.5 billion per month oil-for-goods swap that would enable Iran to lift oil exports substantially.
U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman told a congressional hearing the possibility of a deal was raised at "the highest level" to ensure it did not go ahead.
"My own sense of this is after a fair amount of clarity about this matter that nothing will move forward at this time," Sherman told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday.
"We are very crystal clear that anything like such an agreement between Russia and Iran might have potential sanctionable action and would likely create tremendous risk within the P5+1 which would make coming to a comprehensive agreement all the more difficult if not impossible," she added.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
