Updated 00:46 a.m. Moscow time.
VIENNA, October 16 (RIA Novosti) - Amid numerous US sanctions against Russia, Moscow has every right to begin introducing sanctions against the United States, but chooses not to follow this path, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister told RIA Novosti.
"This is a reflexive, instincts-based reaction of Washington on what does not fit into the American idea of how, with whom, to which extent and upon which basis to do business. Strictly speaking, we now have every right amid this mass of anti-Russian US sanctions to impose sanctions against the United States non-stop and in all the areas," Sergei Ryabkov said.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister noted that Moscow has repeatedly stated that Russia cannot get engaged in the sanctions war and will not follow this path.
Earlier, David Cohen, US Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence said that the United States may introduce more sanctions against Russian companies in light of oil deal with Iran.
Relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated significantly amid the crisis in Ukraine, as Western politicians and media have repeatedly accused Russia of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs and aiding independence supporters in the country's southeast. Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations.
Over the past few months, the United States and a number of its allies introduced several rounds of economic sanctions against Russia. The sanctions particularly target the country's banking, defense and energy sectors.
In August Russia responded to the western sanctions with a ban on food imports from the United States, the European Union, Canada, Australia and Norway.
