Russia signed a contract with Iran in 2007 to deliver five S-300 advanced ground-to-air missiles -- which can target aircraft or guided missiles - at a cost of $800 million (590 million euros).
In 2010, Russia's then-president Dmitry Medvedev cancelled the contract because of UN sanctions and strong US and Israeli pressure over concerns about Tehran's disputed nuclear programme.
"We had a meeting with the Iranian ambassador to Russia and held talks over the (delivery) of a substitute system for S-300," Fars quoted Esmaeel Kosari, the head of parliament's Defence Committee, as saying.
"A team from defence ministry has already gone (to Russia) and another team is due to go there again to discuss the issue," Kosari said.
But his comments are at odds with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's stance on the delivery of a substitute system for S-300.
- "We still insist on the implementation of the previous agreements... considering the very good ties between Iran and Russia we hope to resolve the problem in an acceptable way," Zarif said in December.
Iran lodged a $4 billion lawsuit against Russia at an international court in Geneva.
- Western powers had slapped Iran with sanctions over suspicions it was using its nuclear activities to produce an atomic bomb, despite repeated denials from Tehran, which insists its programme is peaceful.
- Iran and major world powers clinched a historic nuclear deal in November.
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Iran to seek S-300 substitute in Russia....
ReplyDeleteDelegation heads to Moscow to survey possible alternative for missile defense system deal called off by the Kremlin.
“A team from the defense ministry has left [for Russia] and another team is due to travel there again to discuss the issue,” the news agency quoted Defense Committee chairman Esmail Kosari as saying.
One possible substitute suggested by the news agency was the Antei-2500 system, which does not fall under sanctions imposed on Tehran and is geared for use by ground forces — unlike the S-300, which is geared towards use by missile defense forces.
In 2010, Russia called off the sale of five S-300 missile batteries to Iran as part of an agreement worth $800 million.
The two countries had signed the S-300 missile system deal in 2007, but it was canceled as part of UN Security Council sanctions against the Islamic Republic. The cancellation led to tensions between the two countries, including a $4 billion Iranian lawsuit against Russia.
In November, Iran announced it had inaugurated a missile production plant aimed at improving the country’s air defense capabilities.
Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Hossein Dehghan announced that the Sayyad-2 missile production facility would allow the Islamic Republic to hit helicopters, drones and other aerial targets at medium range. The solid fuel gives the missiles improved accuracy compared to liquid-fueled missiles, which make up the bulk of Iran’s air defense arsenal.
Dehghan said scientists have also completed research on another missile system named Talash, or effort.
A week later, Tehran said it successfully tested a new air defense system modeled after the US Hawk system during a drill in the country’s east. A senior Iranian official called the maneuvers a “slap” to America and Israel........http://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-to-seek-s-300-substitute-in-russia/#ixzz2qOCfzPBw
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