Russia says supplying Iran with "defensive" weapons

2008-12-22 21:31:27  

·Russia's state arms export company said it has sold "defensive armaments" to Iran. ·But it would not confirm reports it was delivering S-300 air defense systems to Tehran. ·The S-300s have a longer range than the Tor-M1 systems.

    MOSCOW, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) --

Russia's state arms export company said Monday it has sold "defensive armaments" to Iran, including anti-aircraft missile systems, but it would not confirm reports it was delivering S-300 air defense systems to Tehran.

    "Russia is developing military-technical cooperation with Iran in strict compliance with its international commitments deriving from non-proliferation regimes," the company, Rosoboronexport, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying in a statement.

    "This cooperation cannot be a source of concern for third countries," the statement said.

    Rosoboron export confirmed in the statement that Tor-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems were supplied to Iran previously.

    Iranian media reported last week that Iran will soon receive S-300 air defense systems from Russia under a recently reached deal following several years of negotiation.

    The S-300s are sophisticated, medium-range surface-to-air missile systems and have a longer range than the Tor-M1 systems.

    Israel has urged Russia not to deliver such systems to Iran, alleging Iran wants to develop a military nuclear program and such a deal will not serve the interests of peace in the Middle East. Tehran insists its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes.

Report: Iran to receive S-300 air defense systems from Russia soon

2008-12-22 02:25:39  

    TEHRAN, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) --

Iran will receive the S-300 air defense systems from Russia soon, the official IRNA news agency reported on Sunday.

    Iran and Russia, after several years of negotiations on the purchase of the air defense systems, have concluded a deal, Esmaeil Kosari, Iranian deputy chairman of Parliamentary Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy, was quoted as saying.

    He said the S-300 air defense systems will be deployed in Iran to strengthen national defense on border areas.

    Russia's RIA news agency quoted confidential sources as saying on Wednesday that Russia was currently fulfilling a contract to deliver S-300 air defense systems to Iran.

    "Moscow has earlier met its obligations on supplying Tor-M1 systems to Iran and is currently implementing a contract to deliver S-300 systems," RIA reported.

    The Interfax news agency quoted Israeli Defense Ministry envoy Amos Gilad, who was visiting Moscow on Friday, as saying that Israel expects Russia to respect his country's interests.

    "The deliveries of dangerous armaments to our enemies won't serve the interests of peace and, for instance, can help Iran wipe Israel off the face of the earth," Gilad said.

    On Israel's negative reaction to the Tehran-Moscow agreement, Kosari said "Israel is trying to create obstacle to Iran's progress."

    "But independent countries including Iran have national sovereignty and they make decision on their ties with other states," he said.

    Kosari claimed that Israelis are not able to damage Iran-Russia friendly relations.

    The S-300 is a series of Russia's longer range surface-to-air missile systems. It was developed as a system against aircraft and cruise missiles for Soviet Union's anti-air defense branch of the military, but later variations were also developed to intercept ballistic missiles.

    It is more powerful than the Tor-M1 missile defense system which Russia has delivered to Iran.

Editor: Sun

Moscow vague on air defence deal with Tehran

Russia Todya, December 22, 2008, 15:33

Arms exporter Rosoboronexport neither confirmed nor denied Sunday’s reports that Russia is selling Iran its S-300 air defence systems. It did, however, stress that the system was meant for defence.

The alleged delivery of the advanced weaponry was announced on Sunday by the Iranian national news agency IRNA.

“We only sell defence weapons to Iran, and air defence systems are definitely among those,” said Rosoboronexport spokesman Vyacheslav Davidenko.

He added all arms sales to the Middle Eastern country are done in accordance with international law.

Meanwhile an Israeli diplomat said that Moscow has assured Tel Aviv that no S-300s were supplied to Iran.

The S-300 missile system is among the most advanced anti-aerial weapons in the world. Israel is concerned that if Tehran obtains it, it may tip the balance of powers in the region.

Russia to Sell Iran S-300 Surface-to-Air Missile System

Monday December 22, 2008 07:57 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli sources reported on Sunday evening that Russia agreed to sell Iran the S-300 surface-to-air missile system despite Israel officially asking Russia not to sell the missile defense system to Iran.

The missiles system is developed to hit aircraft and cruise missiles. They were initially developed by the former Soviet Union to be used by the Soviet Defense Forces.

Senior Israeli military officials at the Israeli Air Force said that these missiles impose a real threat to Israel's Middle Eastern hegemony, as they are well developed and very precise at hitting aircraft and small missiles. The missiles can hit targets as high as 150 kilometers up, which threatens “the Israeli supremacy over the air force power of Middle Eastern countries”, the officials said.  

The Israeli sources also stated that if Syria obtains these missiles, the Israeli Air Force will lose its momentum.  Israel also believes that once the Iranians obtain the defense system, they will transfer the technology to their Syrian allies.

The advanced version of the S-300 system, the S-300PMU1 (SA-20 Gargoyle), can intercept 100 ballistic missiles and aircraft at once, at low and high altitudes, within a range of over 150 kilometers, the Tehran Times reported.

Senior Israeli security officials stated that Moscow does not object to the missiles reaching Syria due to the good relations between the two countries.  Yet, the officials said that they do not believe that these missiles will be transferred to Iran in the near future.

Several months ago, Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, visited Russia in an attempt to convince the Russian officials not to sell the S-300 missiles to Iran.

In related news, an Italian newspaper reported that Iran is transferring, through the Venezuelan airlines, computers and parts used for manufacturing missiles.  The paper added that Tehran is helping Venezuela train units that belong to the Venezuelan police and intelligence.

Ismail Kowsari, deputy head of the Iranian National Security and Foreign Policy Committee confirmed on Sunday the deal between Tehran and Russia. He said that these missiles will boost the Iranian defense capabilities and protect its sovereignty.

Last Tuesday, Israeli newspaper Haaretz, reported that Amos Gilad of the Israeli Security Services, visited Russia in an attempt to convince the country to refrain from selling the missile system to Tehran.

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