Russia may return to contract for S-300 after sanctions removal

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

Lifting of international sanctions on Iran is expected to boost military cooperation between the two long-time allies – Russia and Iran.

Though Russia and Iran are close allies, the two countries have experienced a disagreement over the delivery of the anti-aircraft missile systems S-300 under a deal earlier signed between them.

Iran has repeatedly called on Russia to abide by the terms of the agreement, which was cancelled following UN sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Tehran went as far as filing a $4 billion lawsuit against Russia’s intermediary agency for exports and imports of defense-related and dual use products, technologies and services, the Rosoboronexport with Geneva's arbitration court.

Under the $800 million contract signed in 2007 by the two countries, Russia was to deliver S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran. However, the deal was canceled in 2010 by then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, following UN sanctions on Iran due to its disputed nuclear program.

Russia has tried to resolve the problem promising new supplies of the Tor-M1E surface-to-air missile systems. But Iran remained unsatisfied.

The recent framework agreement between world powers and Iran and the possibility that all sanctions could soon be lifted - thus allowing Russia to resume its weapons delivery to Iran, has been seen a favorable development by both Tehran and Moscow.

Victor Kladov, the head of International Cooperation Department of Rostec Corporation said lifting weapons sanctions against Iran will allow Russia to continue military-technical cooperation with the country by supplying new equipment, including air defense weapons and upgrading weapons and equipment already in use, RIA Novosti reported.

It has been estimated that Iran's "Russian order" in view of a potential lifting of all military sanctions stands at about $11-13 billion, according to the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade.

“Iran is our traditional partner in military-technical cooperation. Of course, in case weapons sanctions are lifted, we will continue this cooperation and deliver new weapons, as well as repair and modernize all existing Soviet and Russian-made equipment,” Kladov said.

He said in the Soviet times, that various kinds of weapons had been supplied in the past - from submarines of “Varshavyanka” type to T-72 tanks, which are now in need of repair, modernization, and supply of spare parts.

Touching upon the possibility of delivery of S-300 to Iran, Kladov said Russia has a rich range of air defense systems, adding that the two countries can return to the initial contract, and offer other air defense complexes and systems.

Earlier, director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Alexander Fomin said that Russia is interested in seeing all sanctions against Iran lifted and is ready to develop cooperation with the country in different spheres.