Iran to Receive Russian Missile Systems In Coming Months

Iran to Receive Russian Missile Systems In Coming Months

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Iran will receive the first batch of Russia’s S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system in the first quarter of this year, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan told state news.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree last year allowing a tabled contract for the missile defense system to proceed, as international negotiations over Iran’s nuclear energy program appeared to be advancing. Russia and Iran had signed an $800 million contract for the defense system in 2007, but Russia suspended the contract in 2010, citing international sanctions that had been slapped on Iran. Iran has brought a $4 billion lawsuit against Russia for the tabled contract. Iranian leaders have said they will drop the lawsuit in exchange for the S-300 system. Iran’s ambassador to Moscow, Mehdi Sanei, said the missile defense deal was canceled “under pressure from the West” but that circumstances had since changed. In November, two months before the sanctions were lifted, Russian arms contractor chief Viktor Chemezov confirmed that the deal to renew the delivery had already been signed and the sale was back on. This was after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree in April to suspend the ban on trading military technology with Iran.

Now Iran’s defense minister has unveiled further details on the status of the sale, saying that the missile system will be delivered in two batches. The first part of the hardware is ready for shipment and will be handed over to Iran in the coming few months.

The second batch will be delivered to the Islamic Republic over the first half of next year, Dehqan added.

Russia and Iran currently find themselves on the same side of the Syrian conflict, providing military backing to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Dehqan is expected to arrive in Moscow this week and is likely to sign a contract for the Su-30 purchase, Iranian and Russian media outlets reported Thursday.