Moscow is free to sell weaponry to Tehran, the head of Russia’s state arms exporter said on Thursday.
“Nothing
prevents the continuation of military cooperation in those directions
of interest to Russia and Iran,” Anatoly Isaikin, director-general of
Rosoboronexport, said at a press conference.
“No special rules
are applied to Iran in arms selling…Iran has never violated a single
commitment it has undertaken with regard to military contracts,” he was
quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency and the Interfax news agency as
saying.
Russia agreed to sell S-300PMU1 missile systems to
Iran under a deal reached several years ago, but hasn’t made the
delivery yet.
The deal is worth some 800 million U.S. dollars, according to unofficial sources.
The
S-300PMU1 multi-channel mobile air defense system is designed to
intercept modern and projected aircraft, strategic cruise missiles, and
other targets flying at up to 2,800 meters per second.
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.
Despite
continuing its arms sale policy on Iran, recently Moscow has apparently
moved closer to the West on… >>>
