The U.S. has lifted sanctions on several Russian arms dealers, government and private, who were accused of aiding Iran’s effort to develop nuclear weapons, as Washington works to win Moscow’s support for a Security Council resolution aimed at expanding sanctions against Iran. –JCL

Reuters:

The State Department has lifted sanctions against Russia’s state arms trader and three other Russian entities it had accused of helping Iran try to develop nuclear weapons.

The United States has been trying to win Russia’s support for a U.N. Security Council resolution to expand sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. Russia approved a draft resolution that Washington circulated at the United Nations on Thursday.

State Department spokesman Andy Laine said Russia’s view on Iran “has evolved over time” and noted the country’s support for the draft resolution.

“We felt confident … that we could lift these sanctions,” he said.

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