Moscow ? Russia’s state-controlled arms trader and top aircraft maker criticized Washington Saturday for imposing sanctions on them over dealings with Iran. The defense ministry said the move reflected U.S. annoyance at arms sales to Venezuela.

The companies – Rosoboronexport and Sukhoi – were among seven companies Washington said violated a U.S. law known as the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000. The law is aimed at preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction to Tehran.

The announcement was made in the U.S. Federal Register, which reports on official federal actions. The U.S. State Department had no comment on the sanctions announced Friday.

Under the sanctions, the U.S. government is now prohibited from dealing with any of the companies. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has said the move would threaten future partnership between the two nations. The Russian Defense Ministry on Saturday blasted the sanctions as “ungrounded.”