Russia slams new US sanctions on Iran

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's Foreign Ministry on Monday harshly criticized new U.S. sanctions on Iran, calling them "undisguised blackmail" and warning that relations between Washington and Moscow would suffer if Russian companies were affected.

On Friday, President Barack Obama signed into law new sanctions on Iran's energy, shipping and financial industries as part of an effort to pressure Tehran over its suspected nuclear weapons program. The new sanctions would hit foreign companies that mine uranium with Iran or help it export oil by providing tankers, insurance or banking services.