NEW YORK (Reuters) - Russia, China, Iran, Syria and Cuba are among countries that have opposed the use of sanctions by the United States to impose foreign policy around the world, and have sought ways to support each other in their "common struggle," a Newsweek magazine report said.

The report's author, Tom O'Connor, cited criticism of Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on the Trump administration on Twitter on Thursday, saying that "US sanctions against Iran constitute another violation of international law." In response to the US State Department's announcement of further restrictions on Tehran's efforts to ship oil.

"These coercive measures that prevent the movement of Iranian oil affect our brotherly people in Iran and Syria and threaten peace in this troubled region," Rodriguez said.

The next day, his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, replied, "US economic terrorism against Cuba, China, Russia, Syria, Iran and ... deliberately targets civilians, in an attempt to achieve illegal political objectives by intimidating innocent people." "Rogue American behavior now includes piracy, bribery and extortion. We salute Cuba and stand with it."

The magazine pointed out that Washington's use of sanctions for political purposes well before Trump's time in the White House, but he has expanded the practice, and a number of these goals resist.

The flags of the countries participating in the Damascus International Fair last year ( Reuters )

The day before the US special representative on Iran, Brian Hawk, announced a new restriction on Tehran and a $ 15 million reward for those seeking to disrupt the Revolutionary Guard's naval network, a senior source was quoted by the Petroleum Economist as saying China had agreed to invest its value. $ 280 billion in Iran's oil and gas industry.

Trump also sought to reverse the administration's previous efforts to ease restrictions on Cuba, which has been going on for six decades. On the other hand, Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas received Damascus's ambassador in Havana, Idriss Mia, on Friday.

Friday also saw the end of the Damascus International Fair 61, an event the United States has warned it could punish any participant.Although this threat was present, Belarus, China, Cuba, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, the UAE and Venezuela were among the attendees.