Russia denies hosting top Iranian commander
Media reports said Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani had met with Vladimir Putin in violation of UN sanctions
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MOSCOW, Russia — A senior Russian diplomat on Friday denied claims that an Iranian general has visited Moscow in violation of United Nations sanctions.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Moscow assured Washington that Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the elite Quds Force in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, hadn’t visited Moscow.
“I have no information whatsoever that he visited Russia,” Ryabkov said, adding that Moscow had told Washington so and was surprised to hear the continuing expression of concern from the US.
Fox News has reported that Soleimani visited Moscow last month for meetings with President Vladimir Putin and his defense minister. US Secretary of State John Kerry reportedly spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov Thursday about the issue.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov had earlier denied that the president had been in such a meeting.
US officials have said Washington was trying to determine if Soleimani had traveled to Moscow in violation of the UN travel ban. Soleimaini has been on the UN sanctions blacklist since 2007, which also requires that all countries freeze his overseas assets.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.