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Washington concerned over S-300 delivery to Iran

26 August 2015 [11:28] - TODAY.AZ

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

Washington voiced concern over the possible sale of Russian S-300 missile defense systems to Iran.

"We have long expressed our concerns over reports on this possible sale…but this is something we have been tracking and in general, we are confident in our capabilities, even if that system is sold," U.S. Defense Department Spokesman Peter Cook said in a press briefing on August 25.

Moscow and Tehran has reached an agreement on delivery of the S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system to Iran by the end of 2015.

Iran’s Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said on August 23 that the Russian side has promised to supply Iran with the S-300 surface-to-air missile systems this year.

Meanwhile, Ali-Akbar Velayati, the head of Center for Strategic Studies of the Expediency Council stressed that the S-300 air defense system would serve to strengthen Iran's security.

He said the Islamic Republic would take any legitimate measure it deems necessary for self-defense and beef up military forces and security.

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 U.S. has expressed concern over Moscow’s announcement arguing the sale would create instability in the Middle East.

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.

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.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/143179.html

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