Russia says US sanctions on arms dealers 'illegal'

MOSCOW: Russia on Saturday hit back at the United States after Washington had imposed sanctions on three Russian firms for exporting weapons to Libya and Iran, branding the US action "illegal".

"The United States are not for the first time trying to extend their national laws illegally to foreign countries, forcing them to work according to Aemrican rules," the Russian foreign ministry said.

Washington announced sanctions against 24 foreign entities, including Russian, Chinese and North Korean firms, on Friday for allegedly selling banned weapons to Iran and Syria.

The move drew a sharp protest from Moscow.

Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboroneksport was among the highest profile firms hit by the measures, imposed under the 2005 Iran and Syria Nonproliferation Act.

The US had already imposed similar sanctions on Rosoboroneksport and Russian plane maker Sukhoi in August 2006 for providing Iran with material that Washington said could be used to make weapons of mass destruction.

"Ultimately, all these decisions constitute an interior problem for the American authorities," the Russian foreign ministry said on Saturday.

"The American state is forbidding itself and American companies from cooperating with our leading businesses. In business terms, that means wasted opportunities," the ministry said.