Russia says US restrictions on its role in Venezuela’s oil business are discrimination

MOSCOW, Feb 11 – Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that new U.S. restrictions on the role of Russia and other countries in Venezuela’s oil business were blatant discrimination and the Kremlin said it would clarify the matter with Washington. The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday issued a general license to facilitate the exploration and production of oil and gas in Venezuela. The license did not authorise transactions involving Russian, Chinese and Iranian nationals or entities. Lavrov, speaking to the lower house of parliament, said that Russia was in touch with Washington on the issue and wanted to conduct…