Kerry complains to Moscow about Iran general’s visit

In criticising Washington for not cancelling the plan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week went as far as to say that U.S. President Barack Obama “was not telling the truth” in comments he made in 2009, linking the need for a missile shield to what he called the threat from Iran.

The reported visit last month by Maj.

“We were honestly very surprised by these reports, given that we had told our American colleagues last week we did not have such information”, Russian news agencies quoted deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Friday. Washington has previously assured Moscow the shield was meant as protection from “rogue” states like Iran, and not directed against Russian Federation.

“Secretary Kerry also raised his concerns about the travel to Moscow by IRGC Commander Qassem Suleimani”, the senior official said Thursday, outlining a call between the two diplomats. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, earlier denied that the president had met with the Iranian commander. Soleimaini has been on the United Nations sanctions blacklist since 2007, which also requires that all countries freeze his overseas assets. U.S. officials view Gen. Soleimani as Iran’s top intelligence official who oversees Tehran’s support of militias and terrorist organizations in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon.

Despite the recent deal struck by Iran and world powers on its nuclear programme the sanctions against Suleimani remain in effect, Toner noted, adding the US would work to ensure “that there’s a full, thorough, adequate investigation (of the visit) as well as sufficient follow-up”.