According to sources cited by Politico, the State Department is warning Congress about declaring Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.

Several sources familiar with the matter said the State Department quietly conveyed to congressional leaders that it was concerned about Russia being labeled a state sponsor of terrorism, Politico reported.

The main concerns include a possible response from Russia, such as a violation of the Istanbul Agreement on the resumption of grain exports.

Sanctions that would automatically follow from declaring Russia a state sponsor of terrorism would prevent private sector actors from getting involved in the delivery deal, and economic ties to nuclear materials are also a reason why the State Department has reservations.

The black list of states declared by the US as sponsors of terrorism is short: North Korea, Syria, Cuba and Iran.

In July, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Secretary of State Anthony Blinken that if she did not blacklist Russia, Congress could. The Senate has since unanimously passed a non-binding resolution urging Blinken to do so.

After the resolution, a group of House members initiated a bill that would designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, ignoring the top diplomat in Washington.