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Moscow, Tehran clarify S-300 missiles delivery issue

20 August 2015 [09:26] - TODAY.AZ

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

Tehran and Moscow have reached clarity on the issue of supply of S-300 missiles to Iran, which was suspended after imposition of the international sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

RIA Novosti quoted Russian president's special representative for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov as saying that the issue was resolved and closed, only technical details were left.

The RIA Novosti also quoted a high-ranking source in Russia’s foreign ministry as saying on August 19 that Russia will supply Iran with S-300 surface-to-air missile systems this year.

The source said the number of the systems to be delivered to Iran was indicated in a previously concluded contract.

Earlier, a source in the Iranian defense ministry said Tehran expects to receive S-300 anti-aircraft missiles after 30-40 days of signing a new agreement with Moscow.

The delegation of representatives of the military department of the Islamic Republic is expected to visit Moscow next week, according to the reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree in mid-April to lift a ban on the supply of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran.

The decision to deliver the missile systems came after Iran and the P5+1 group of countries reached a mutual understanding on Tehran’s nuclear program in Lausanne on April 2.

The recent nuclear deal between P5+1 and Iran, made it easier for the two countries to realize the delivery of missiles.

Iran’s Defense Minister Hoseyn Dehqan said on August 18 that Moscow will hand over four batteries of S-300 missiles to Iran soon.

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, it cancelled the contract in the wake of UN sanctions.

In turn, 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, Rosoboron export with Geneva's arbitration court. Iran said it has no intention to withdraw the lawsuit until it receives the missile systems.

A while ago, Vladimir Kozhin, President Vladimir Putin’s aide on military and technical cooperation said Moscow is working to upgrade the S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system it plans to deliver to Iran.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/143042.html

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