Press TV - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warns that the new round of US sanctions on Iran is �alarming,� saying the bans signal that the situation amid Washington-Tehran tensions is headed towards a dangerous scenario.

Speaking at a news conference in Maldives on Tuesday, Lavrov expressed his concern over the ongoing events and the latest move by US President Donald Trump�s administration to impose �another round of sanctions, very personal sanctions� against senior Iranian officials.

He emphasized that these restrictions �are alarming and sending a signal that the situation is unfolding under a very bad scenario,� Russian media cited him as saying.

The top Russian diplomat said the current tensions over Iran were reminiscent of events in 2003 when the US tried to build a case for invading Iraq. Back then, Washington claimed that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction, which was proven false post-invasion.
�All of us know the result. In May [2003], the US declared victory of democracy in Iraq. Draw your conclusion on how this democracy has demonstrated itself over the 16 past years,� Lavrov said.
On Monday, Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, his office and eight senior commanders of Iran�s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).