Russian missiles delivered
to Iran: Ivanov
By Reuters
01/16/07 -- -- MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has delivered
new anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran and will
consider further requests by Tehran for defensive
weapons, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said on
Tuesday.
"We have supplied the modern short-range anti-aircraft
systems TOR-M1 in accordance with our contracts," Ivanov
told reporters. "Iran is not under sanctions and if it
wants to buy defensive ... equipment for its armed
forces then why not?"
A defense ministry source later told Reuters deliveries
of hardware under the $1 billion deal, which has been
criticised by the West, have not yet been completed.
Washington and Israel have criticised the contract to
supply the TOR-M1 missiles to Iran, saying Tehran could
use them against its neighbors.
Late last year Russia reluctantly joined U.N. sanctions
against Iran, which introduced restrictions on Iran's
trade in sensitive nuclear materials and technology,
aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
But Moscow says the sanctions do not apply to the
missiles.
The Russian military insists that the missile systems
will protect Iran from air attacks, but do not pose a
threat to neighboring countries.
Last year Russia dropped the idea of selling
longer-range S300 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran.
However, Washington imposed sanctions against four
Russian arms firms for selling weapons to Iran and
Syria.
© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved.
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