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Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Iran to Receive Five Russian S300 Missile Defense Systems in First Stage

Tue Apr 14, 2015 1:25
Iran to Receive Five Russian S300 Missile Defense Systems in First Stage
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940125000612


TEHRAN (FNA - FARS News Agency)- Moscow is capable of delivering five S300
air defense missile systems to Tehran in the first stage of their
cooperation, Russia's local media said.

Interfax quoted a senior Russian General as saying that "supplying Iran with
the S300 missile system, would compensate the geopolitical mistake Russia
did during last years".

On Monday, Russia's Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that supplies
of the Russian S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran may begin any
moment in line with the relevant decree signed by the Russian president,

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday to lift the ban
on the delivery of S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran.

"The decree stipulates… no delays," Peskov told journalists adding that the
second provision of the decree states that "it comes into force on the day
it was signed."

Putin’s decision on Monday to lift embargo on the deliveries of S-300 air
defense missile systems came in the wake of progress achieved at the Iran
nuclear talks in Switzerland over a week ago paving the way for the
international community to lift sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said also on Monday that Russia’s embargo on
deliveries of S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran was no longer in
need due to progress in the resolution of the situation around Iran’s
nuclear program.

This year, Lavrov continued, the six international negotiators, after a
regular round of talks with Iran, "stated" on April 2 in Lausanne
"substantial progress in settling Iran’s nuclear problem."

"The G5+1 stated progress in the settlement of Iran’s nuclear program.
Political frameworks of the final agreement were coordinated. They received
a high assessment everywhere on the international arena," he said.

"S-300 is an air defense missile system, which is of a purely defensive
nature. It is not designed for attacks and will not put at risk the security
of any regional state, of course," Lavrov said.

"Meanwhile, for Iran, taking into account the very tense situation in the
region surrounding it, modern air defense systems are very important," he
said.

Also on Monday, 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.

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.

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