Russia slams 'suffocating' Iran sanctions

Russia: Russia yesterday accused Western powers of trying to "suffocate" the Iranian economy and incite popular discontent with new sanctions such as a proposed oil embargo.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said all sanctions aimed at winning more transparency from Iran concerning its nuclear programme had "exhausted" themselves and new measures threatened to only hurt the Iranian people.

"Additional unilateral sanctions against Iran have nothing to do with a desire to ensure the regime's commitment to nuclear non-proliferation," Lavrov told reporters at an annual briefing outlining Russia's foreign policy views. AFP