Spokesman: Iran denies agreement with Russia over missile delivery

2008-12-23 00:54:04  

·Iran denied on Monday that there was an agreement with Russia over missile delivery. ·It was reported Sunday that Iran would receive S-300 air defense systems from Russia soon. ·Israeli Defense Ministry envoy said Israel expected Russia to respect his country's interests.

    TEHRAN, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) --

Iran denied on Monday that there was an agreement with Russia over missile delivery, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

    No final agreement had yet reached with Russia over the delivery of a new air defense system to Iran, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi told reporters.

    "The Foreign Ministry has not yet received anything final in this regard, therefore, I can neither confirm nor deny this agreement," Qashqavi was quoted as saying.

    According to Fars, the Iranian lawmaker Ismail Kowsari on Sunday claimed that "the deal had already been finalized with Moscow."

    Moreover, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported Sunday that Iran would receive the S-300 air defense systems from Russia soon.

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

    In a counter position, Israeli Defense Ministry envoy Amos Gilad, who was visiting Moscow on Friday, said that Israel expected 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.

    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.

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.