A top Kremlin diplomat said newly enacted sanctions against Russia will push the already strained relationship between the two countries into “unchartered territory.”
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the sanctions, passed by the House by a 419-3 margin on Tuesday, will close off the “prospect of normalizing ties,” according to the Associated Press, and move the US and Moscow into “unchartered territory both in the political and diplomatic sense.”
Later Wednesday, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, called it “very sad news.”
“We are talking about an extremely unfriendly act,” Peskov said, adding that Moscow would decide whether to retaliate once the sanctions became law.
But Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned his country, which is also included in the sanctions bill, would respond with a “reciprocal” reaction.
Appearing on state TV on Wednesday, Rouhani said Iran will “take any action that is necessary for the country’s expedience and interests.”
The bill would make it difficult for President Trump to ease sanctions against Russia for meddling in the 2016 election without the consent of Congress.
It also takes punitive action against Iran and North Korea over their weapons systems.
The bill now moves to the Senate, which approved an earlier draft in June.
It’s not clear whether Trump will sign the bill.
“While the president supports tough sanctions on North Korea, Iran and Russia, the White House is reviewing the House legislation and awaits a final legislative package for the president’s desk,” said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
House Speaker Paul Ryan said the threat posed by the three nations “cannot be understated.”
“These bad actors have long sought to undermine the United States and disrupt global stability,” the Wisconsin Republican said. “The bill we just passed with overwhelming bipartisan support is one of the most expansive sanctions packages in history. It tightens the screws on our most dangerous adversaries in order to keep Americans safe.”
Russia has denied interfering in the election process.
Along with the FBI and special counsel Robert Mueller, a number of congressional panels are investigating Russian involvement in the election and whether Trump campaign officials helped them.
