Russia Determined to Implement Military Deals with Iran: Velayati
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Head of the Strategic Research Center of Iran’s Expediency Council Ali Akbar Velayati said there is no “serious obstacle” in the way to transfer Russia’s S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran, adding that Moscow is determined to carry out its military deals with Tehran.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema, Velayati pointed to his talks with the Russian defense minister in Moscow two weeks ago, saying, “Russia is resolved to implement the agreements that it has signed with Iran, including the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system….”
“Therefore, I see no serious obstacle in the way to transfer defense equipment from Russia to Iran,” he added.
Under the previous contract signed in 2007, Russia was required to provide Iran with at least five S-300 defense system batteries.
But the contract, worth more than $800 million, was revoked after then-President Dmitry Medvedev banned the supply of those systems to Tehran in 2010.
Later, Iran lodged a $4 billion lawsuit at an international court in Geneva against Russia’s arms export agency.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin decided in April to lift the ban on the S-300 missile system delivery to Iran.
