MOSCOW -(Dow Jones)- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has asked Russian long-distance carrier OAO Rostelecom (ROS) for information on its business ties to counties like Iran and North Korea, which are subject to trade restrictions by the U.S., according to a letter on the SEC's web site.

In a response to the SEC also posted on the site, Rostelecom (NYSE:ROS) , which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, denied any wrongdoing and said that "revenues derived from countries cited in your letter are extremely small."

The SEC said in its letter to Rostelecom (NYSE:ROS) that the company itself had noted it had business ties with Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria.

The letter, signed by assistant director of the SEC, Larry Spirgel, asked the company to "please expand your materiality analysis to address the potential impact upon your reputation and share value of these business contacts in light of the investor sentiment underlying the legislative and other actions cited as examples in our prior comment."

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