The Trump administration is exploring ways to break Russia’s military and diplomatic alliance with Iran, the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Sunday, according to the Wall Street Journal.
“If there’s a wedge to be driven between Russia and Iran, we’re willing to explore that,” he said.
He added the White House does not see Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “choir boy” despite US President Donald Trump’s compliments about the Russian leader.
The remarks came after Trump said earlier that he respects his Russian counterpart and when told in an interview that Putin was "a killer," Trump said the US has many of them too.
Recently, the US Treasury amended restrictions on business transactions with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) imposed over the alleged hacking of America's presidential election. However, Trump and his White House spokesperson refused to call the move an easing of sanctions.