Russia sees no reason to stop trading with Iran and will continue to do so whenever it considers it appropriate, despite US sanctions threats, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
US President Donald Trump said on January 12 that any country doing business with Iran would face a tariff rate of 25% on any trade with the US.
"I see no reasons to stop joint projects with Iran, despite US threats to raise tariffs," he said." Russia will trade with Iran as it sees fitting," he added.
Lavrov alleged that Nato was preparing for a "war" with Russia. "Nato is 'seriously' preparing for a war with Russia. They are not hiding this fact," he said.
"There are discussions ongoing within Nato whether it's time to shut it down, because one member intends to attack another," he further said.
Dismissing the Trump's charges that Greenland had a looming threat from Russia and China, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said that the nation had "no interest" in interfering in the Arctic island.
"In principle, Greenland is not a natural part of Denmark, is it?" Lavrov said."It was neither a natural part of Norway nor a natural part of Denmark. It is a colonial conquest. The fact that the inhabitants are now accustomed to it and feel comfortable is another matter," he added.
Trump said the United States should have complete control over Greenland, a self-governing region of Denmark, citing national security concerns.
On Saturday, he also announced tariffs on goods from European allies who oppose a possible US takeover.
European countries have said Trump's tariffs announcement would violate a trade deal reached with his administration last year. EU leaders are set to discuss possible retaliation at an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday.