Moscow’s decision to halt delivery of powerful S-300 air-defense missiles to Iran, citing the new U.N. sanctions on the Islamic Republic, may be politically convenient but it could carry a hefty cost for Russia in the Middle East.
The Kremlin has been delaying delivery of five S-300PMU batteries under a $700 million contract in 2007, largely because of U.S. and Israeli pressure.
But Russian leaders have now found a valid excuse to deny the Islamic Republic the weapons it wants to protect its nuclear facilities from attack.
That may have earned Moscow brownie points in Washington but there is no doubt a quid pro quo involved somewhere in going along with the sanctions proposed by the Americans and their European allies.
Just what that might be isn’t clear but there could well be a downside for the Russians and the arms industry they are striving to bolster as a means of restoring some of Moscow’s influence in the Middle East as U.S. power is seen to be ebbing.
