Mubasher: Russia and its allies will take measures to counteract new sanctions on Iran to be announced by Washington, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

While not specifying those measures, Ryabkov told Russian news agencies TASS and RIA on Monday that the imposition of US sanctions would only aggravate tensions, Reuters reported.

The US is set to announce new sanctions against Iran in an attempt to exert more pressure on the country’s economy to force changes in its government’s behaviour.

US State Secretary Mike Pompeo described the new sanctions as “significant,” without unveiling any details ahead of the official announcement.

“We are going to deny them the resources they need to do that thereby keeping American interests and American people safe all around the world,” Pompeo said.

The foreign minister official urged Washington to seek dialogue with the Iranian leadership, instead of sanctions.

On a side note, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on a regular media call that Moscow deemed the US sanctions as illegal.