In warning to Russia, Iran says it can build S-300
press tv
Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:22:20 GMT
"If Tehran obtained the S-300, it would be a game-changer in military
thinking for tackling Iran," says long-time Pentagon advisor Dan
Goure.
With the delivery of an advanced air defense system to Iran long
overdue by Russia, Tehran says it is capable of mass-producing
replicas of the controversial Russian-made missile in the near future.
Speaking to Mehr News Agency on Saturday, Head of Iran’s Foreign
Policy and National Security Commission in Parliament Alaeddin
Boroujerdi said Tehran and Russia have a long history of military
cooperation and it is crucial that Russia honors its commitments with
respect to Iran.
"The Russians should meet their commitment on the delivery of the
missile system, which will only be used to defend the country’s
territory," said the Iranian lawmaker.
He was referring to the Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missile
system, which can track targets and fire at aircraft 120 km (75 miles)
away, features high jamming immunity and is able to simultaneously
engage up to 100 targets.
Boroujerdi went on to warn Russia that "Iran is not a country which
would stop short of action in dealing with countries who fail to
deliver on their promises."
He said that while the Islamic Republic will be able to mass produce
the system in the near future, Russia’s commitment to the deal could
lay the ground for future cooperation.
The remarks come as Russia and Iran clinched a deal on the sale of
S-300 system in December 2007. Unofficial reports claim that the
Russian-Iranian contract on the sale of the S-300 missiles is worth
$800 million.
The delay on the delivery of the system comes as earlier in September,
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret trip to Moscow
during which he is believed to have discussed with Russian leaders
measures to hold off on providing the ultramodern anti-aircraft
missiles to Iran.
After the media spilled the beans on the controversial visit, Sergei
Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, refused to deny the reports about
the Israeli official’s secret trip.
"I am only going to say: to verify the rumor you should go to the
source of the rumor," he said. "Our co-operation with Iran is quite
legitimate. We are not selling offensive weapons to Iran."
Lavrov described the S-300 system as purely defensive, adding, "As far
as the trade of military elements goes, Russia has not violated [its]
international obligations."
Despite the remarks by the Russian foreign minister, Russia has yet to
deliver the system to Iran and military officials in Moscow are yet to
give an explanation about the delay.
Meanwhile, as rumors began to circulate that Moscow had scrapped the
deal, deputy director for Russia’s federal service for
military-technical cooperation Konstantin Biryulin said on Thursday
that the matter was still under consideration despite mounting Western
pressure over military dealings with Iran.
"The issue of S-300 deliveries is still under discussion," he was
quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.
Reacting to the delay, a top Iranian military official urged Russia on
Friday to honor its military contract with the Tehran government and
deliver the promised S-300 surface-to-air missiles.
Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, the chief of staff of Iran’s armed
forces, said that Moscow was now six months late in delivering the
S-300 missiles to Tehran.
"Don’t the Russian [political and military] strategists consider the
geopolitical significance of Iran in ensuring Russia’s security,"
asked Firouzabadi.
Iran says it has opted to acquire the sophisticated S-300 defense
system – which, according to Western experts, would rule out the
possibility of an Israeli airstrike on Iranian nuclear sites – to
protect the country in case of any such attack.
Israel has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities,
including the uranium enrichment plant at Natanz or the country’s
first atomic power plant, which has been under construction by Russian
workers in Bushehr for years, arguing that the country’s nuclear
activities are an existential threat to Tel Aviv’s security.
This is while Tehran says its nuclear program is aimed at the civilian
applications of the technology and has called for the removal of
weapons of mass destruction from across the globe.