The U.S. authorities are prepared to impose 'increasingly painful costs' on Russia due to the situation in Ukraine and a probable deal with Iran, U.S. Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen said.
“The U.S. remains prepared to take additional strong measures to impose increasingly painful costs on Russia if Russia does not change course,” he said.
Cohen warned Russia’s leaders against a probable deal with Iran on crude oil in exchange for commodities, saying that any Russian companies engaging in deals with Iran would be subject to U.S. penalties.
“It is almost certain that any entity involved in any such deal would be exposing itself to U.S. sanctions, possibly to sanctions from others as well,” Cohen said. Yet, he said Washington had no information at that moment whether Moscow and Tehran had concluded such deals.
Commenting on Moscow’s decision to suspend imports of U.S. farm produce, Cohen said that it wouldn’t have a significant impact on the U.S. economy.
“The steps that Russia announced are likely insignificant as an impact on the U.S. economy,” he said.
