State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf on Tuesday was pressed over a recent letter sent to Secretary of State John Kerry by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), in which the House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman expressed concerns over a long-reported $20 billion deal that would see Iran trade oil in exchange for Russian goods:

I am deeply concerned that Iran is attempting to circumvent November’s interim nuclear accord through a $20 billion barter agreement with Russia. Reports indicate that Iranian and Russian officials have discussed an illicit oil-for-goods contract that could undermine the sanctions regime and weaken American negotiating leverage. These efforts to evade sanctions undermine Iran’s agreement with the P5+1 and cast serious doubt on Iranian intentions.

Analysts and journalists assessed last January that the arrangement would “substantially undermin[e] Western sanctions,” and subsequent reporting in April cited experts worrying that “the deal would ease further pressure on Iran’s battered energy sector and at least partially restore Iran’s access to oil customers.”

Royce’s letter also took note of recent testimony given by Kerry to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in which the Secretary flatly acknowledged that the Russian-Iranian contracts would “be inconsistent with the terms” of the interim Joint Plan of Action (JPA). Iranian media has been covering the controversy as well.

A PressTV analyst explained earlier this week that Western concerns were being driven by the Bilderbergers and the neocons:

Barrett said the Bilderbergers may now seek to “opt for a gradual, peaceful transition to a multi-polar world by making peace with Iran and refraining from excessive aggression towards Russia and China.”

“Or,” he added, “Will they give the nod to the neocons, who will then set off a huge 9/11-style false flag attack to launch the next round of bloody imperial conquest?”

Harf was asked at Tuesday’s briefing about the details of Royce’s letter, and was specifically asked whether the administration “believes that Iran has reached an agreement to provide oil to Russia in exchange for food, arms, and nuclear assistance.” After somewhat sardonically declaring “oh, a topic I like talking about,” Harf explained that she hadn’t heard about Royce’s letter but assured the State Department press corps that she would “check on that.”

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