US Special Representative for Venezuela and Iran Elliott Abrams said Washington could deny access to the US market to anyone who trades weapons with Iran, which President Donald Trump’s administration accuses of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has denied it is developing nuclear weapons.

In 2018 Trump quit the Iran nuclear deal - under which Tehran limited its nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief - and reimposed U.S. sanctions. Washington also says it has triggered a return of all UN sanctions on Iran, which would take effect this weekend.

The UN had earlier opposed the US’s extension of arms embargo on Iran beyond its expiration in October. Russia warned that the US’s attempts to reimpose sanctions on Iran would fail adding that Russia is ready to be a mediator between the US and Iran.