RUSSIA: Russia said yesterday it had delivered new anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran and would consider further requests by Tehran for defensive weapons.
The US, which accuses Tehran of seeking nuclear arms and undermining security in the Middle East, acknowledged that Moscow had violated no sanctions but said such deliveries to a "state sponsor of terrorism" could only be frowned upon.
Russian defence minister Sergei Ivanov, when asked about the sale, said: "We have supplied the modern short-range anti-aircraft systems TOR-M1 in accordance with our contracts.
"We're developing our military and technical co-operation with Iran in accordance with international law and will continue to develop it," he said. "And if Iran wants to buy defensive, I underline defensive, equipment for its armed forces, then why not?" Mr Ivanov, who is also deputy prime minister and is seen as a potential successor to President Vladimir Putin, did not say how many missile systems had been delivered or when the deliveries took place.
Russian arms sales and nuclear co-operation with Iran have strained relations with Washington, which suspects Tehran of using a nuclear power programme to cover for development of atomic weapons.
Russia, which is building Iran's first nuclear power plant in Bushehr, says Tehran does not have the capability to make nuclear weapons. Iran says it has a right to develop its civilian nuclear sector and denies seeking nuclear arms. A defence ministry source later said deliveries of hardware under the $1 billion TOR-M1 missile deal had not yet been completed.
Late last year Russia reluctantly joined UN sanctions against Iran, which introduced restrictions on Iran's trade in sensitive nuclear materials and technology, aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions. But Moscow says the sanctions do not apply to missile systems, which are designed to shoot down aircraft, missiles and other weapons at medium and low altitudes.
"The UN resolution that was accepted, and for which the Russian Federation voted, does not apply to contracts made by Iran," Mr Ivanov said.
In Washington, a spokesman for the US State Department said conventional weapons contracts with Iran were still frowned upon. "Certainly we don't think that providing military sales to governments like Iran that are state sponsors of terrorism and that have a negative track record is a positive thing," said Tom Casey. - (Reuters)