Russia starts S-300 missile supplies to Iran – Iranian MP
16:10 | 21/ 12/ 2008
TEHRAN, December 21 (RIA Novosti) – Russia has started the supplies of
components for S-300 air defense systems to Iran, a senior Iranian
lawmaker said on Sunday.
Esmaeil Kosari, deputy chairman of the parliamentary commission on
national security and foreign policy told the Iranian news agency IRNA
that Iran and Russia had held negotiations for several years on the
purchase of S-300 air defense systems and had finalized a deal.
Kosari said the Islamic Republic would deploy S-300 surface-to-air
missile systems to strengthen national defense on border areas.
Iran recently took delivery of 29 Russian-made Tor-M1 air defense
missile systems under a $700-million contract signed in late 2005.
Russia has also trained Iranian Tor-M1 specialists, including radar
operators and crew commanders.
The U.S. and Israel, which have consistently refused to rule out the
possibility of military action against Iran, were earlier alarmed by
media reports, which started circulating as early as 2005, on the
possible delivery of S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Iran, as these
systems could greatly improve Iranian defenses against any air strike
on its strategically important sites, including nuclear facilities.
The advanced version of the S-300 missile system, called S-300PMU1
(SA-20 Gargoyle), has a range of over 150 kilometers (over 100 miles)
and can intercept ballistic missiles and aircraft at low and high
altitudes, making the system an effective tool for warding off possible
air strikes.
The Islamic Republic has conducted several high-profile war games this
year, including a three-day series of Air Force and missile defense
exercises on September 15-18, while promising swift retaliation in the
event of any act of aggression against the country.
Iran is currently under three sets of relatively mild UN Security
Council sanctions for defying demands to halt uranium enrichment, which
it says it needs purely for electricity generation despite Western
accusations that the program is geared toward weapon production.