MOSCOW: US visa restrictions on Russian officials linked to the death of investment fund lawyer Sergei Magnitsky will not affect cooperation on Iran and Afghanistan, a senior Russian official said on Tuesday.

“Speaking about the information in the US media about an asymmetrical response, a cutback in cooperation over Afghanistan, Iran, the Middle East, then there is nothing more far from reality than such speculations,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

The 2009 death of the 37-year-old, who worked for equity fund Hermitage Capital and died after a year in Russian jails, spooked investors and tarnished Russia's image. The Kremlin's human rights council says he was probably beaten to death.

The US imposed visa restrictions on some Russian officials believed to be involved in Magnitsky's death. Russia reacted angrily, prompting concerns that the move could affect the “reset” policy between the two Cold War foes.—Reuters