UPDATE 1-Vietnam regrets U.S. decision to sanction firm over Iran-related trade Reuters 12/17/2020 (Adds comments and background) By Phuong Nguyen and Khanh Vu HANOI, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday it regretted a U.S. decision to sanction a Vietnamese company relating to the transport of petroleum products from Iran. "Trade relations between Vietnam and Iran are strictly civilian and involve goods that would serve the essential needs of people and are not in contrary to the resolutions of the UN," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang told a daily press briefing. The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday imposed sanctions on a number of global companies, accusing them of supporting the sale of Iranian petrochemicals as Washington increases pressure on Tehran in the closing days of President Donald Trump’s term.