Russia Friday rejected the sanctions the United States imposed on three Russian companies that sold weapons to Iran, Venezuela and Syria, Efe reported.

"The United States has once again behaved hastily and unwisely," Konstantin Kosachov, head of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Russian Duma, told Moscow radio station Eco.

Kosachov stressed that "control over Russian weapon exports are very stringent. Any weapon shipment for export has to meet international standards."

According to US press reports, the US Department of State has imposed two-year sanctions on Russian state holding Rosoboronexport and other two Russian weapon firms.

Rosoboronexport's spokesman, Valeri Kartavtsev, Friday explained "in no case this holding has infringed the international rules governing technical military cooperation among the different countries."

Last July, Washington imposed similar sanctions on Russian aeronautic holding Sukhoi for selling weapons and military technology to Iran. Penalties were lifted four months later.

Russia has also become Venezuela's major weapon provider, despite US restrictions. Washington believes the sales of arms to Caracas do not contribute to regional stability.

Over the last two years, Moscow and Caracas have initialed weapon sales agreements exceeding USD 3 billion, including supply of 54 Mi-17, Mi-26 and Mi-35 helicopters.

President Hugo Chávez, during his official visit to Moscow last August, personally thanked the Kremlin for continuing to sell weapons to Venezuela, despite US pressures.