About Us

IMRA
IMRA
IMRA

 

Subscribe

Search


...................................................................................................................................................


Monday, April 13, 2015
Iranian DM: Putin's Order for S-300 Delivery Heralds All-Out Promotion of Ties

Iranian DM: Putin's Order for S-300 Delivery Herlads All-Out Promotion of
Ties
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940124001635

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan
hailed the Russian president's Monday decision to repeal the ban prohibiting
the delivery of S-300 missile air defense systems to Iran, describing it as
a prelude to the widening and enhancement of Tehran-Moscow relations in all
fields.

The Kremlin's press service announced earlier today that Vladimir Putin has
removed the ban on the delivery of the missile shield to Iran.

In response, Gen. Dehqan said "the decree came as an interpretation of the
will of the two countries' political leaders to develop and promote
cooperation in all fields".

"Expansion of mutual cooperation with the neighboring countries in various
fields can play an effective role in the establishment of durable security
and stability in the region," the Iranian defense minister said.

He said the threats posed by the trans-regional powers as well as the spread
of Takfiri terrorist groups have necessitated the broadening and deepening
of cooperation, a point "which has always been at the center of Iran-Russia
talks for cooperation".

Putin's decision was announced hours after relevant reports said the Kremlin
also plans to supply China with the advanced S-400 air defense system.

Earlier this month, a leading Russian defense expert said that his country
may resume the deal to deliver S-300 surface-to-air defense systems to Iran.

After negotiators from Iran, the United States and other world powers agreed
on April 2 to a framework for a final agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program,
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that a UN arms embargo
against Iran should also go.

"Lifting sanctions on Iran, including the arms embargo, would be an
absolutely logical thing to do,” said Igor Korotchenko, who heads the Global
Arms Trade Analysis Center think tank in Moscow.

“Of key importance to us is the delivery of the upgraded S-300 missiles to
Iran… A contract to this effect could be resumed on terms acceptable to both
Moscow and Tehran,” he added.

In January, Tehran and Moscow signed an agreement to broaden their defensive
cooperation and also resolve the problem with the delivery of Russia's S300
missile defense systems to Iran.

The agreement was signed by General Dehqan and his visiting Russian
counterpart General Sergei Shoigu in a meeting in Tehran in January.

The Iranian and Russian defense ministers agreed to resolve the existing
problems which have prevented the delivery of Russia's advanced air defense
systems to Iran in recent years.

The two sides also agreed to broaden their defense cooperation and joint
campaign against terrorism and extremism.

In 2007, Iran signed a contract worth $800mln to buy five Russian S300
missile defense systems.

But the deal was scrapped in 2010 by the then-Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev, who was unilaterally expanding on sanctions against Iran imposed
by the UN Security Council.

Iran filed a $4bln lawsuit against Russia in the international arbitration
court in Geneva, which is currently pending review.

Moscow has struggled to have the lawsuit dropped, including by offering the
Tor anti-aircraft systems as replacement, media reported in August, adding
that the offer was rejected by Tehran.

The Antei-2500, however, may be a better solution, the reports said. The
system does not formally fall under the existing sanctions against Iran
while still being useful for the Middle-Eastern country.

While the S-300 was developed for the use by missile defense forces, the
Antei-2500 was specifically tailored for the needs of ground forces, which
could also be an advantage for Iran, known for its large land force.

Later, Iran rejected the offer, stressing that it would not change its
order.

The S-300 is a series of Russian long range surface-to-air missile systems
produced by NPO Almaz, all based on the initial S-300P version. The S-300
system was developed to defend against aircraft and cruise missiles for the
Soviet Air Defense Forces. Subsequent variations were developed to intercept
ballistic missiles.

The S-300 system was first deployed by the Soviet Union in 1979, designed
for the air defense of large industrial and administrative facilities,
military bases, and control of airspace against enemy strike aircraft.

In the meantime, Iran designed and developed its own version of the S-300
missile shield, known as Bavar (Belief) 373. The Iranian version has
superior features over the original Russian model as it enjoys increased
mobility and reduced launch-preparation time.

Search For An Article

....................................................................................................

Contact Us

POB 982 Kfar Sava
Tel 972-9-7604719
Fax 972-3-7255730
email:imra@netvision.net.il IMRA is now also on Twitter
http://twitter.com/IMRA_UPDATES

image004.jpg (8687 bytes)