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02-14-2006, 04:30 PM
Russia denies S-300 talks with Iran, confirms Tor-M1 contract
15:37 | 13/ 01/ 2006
MOSCOW/TEHRAN, January 13 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Defense Ministry and state arms trader Rosoboronexport denied media reports Friday that Moscow and Tehran were negotiating sales of S-300 air-defense missile systems.
"This does not correspond with reality," Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said. "No [Russian] military delegation was in Tehran, and no talks on S-300 [missiles] were held."
With tensions around the Islamic Republic running high after its resumption of nuclear research on Tuesday, some media reported Friday that a Russian delegation had broken off negotiations with Tehran on sales of the missiles and returned home on Monday. The move was alleged to have been in protest at Iran's imminent decision to restart its nuclear programs.
However, Rosoboronexport's Tehran branch also said earlier that a Russian delegation had not been involved in negotiations for sales of S-300 air-defense missiles to Iran in January.
"There were no talks with Iran on the issue [S-300 sales] in January this year," a Rosoboronexport official said. "Military-technical cooperation between Russia and Iran is conducted with strict compliance with Russia's international obligations."
Nevertheless, Ivanov said the situation around the Iranian "nuclear file" would not affect a contract on the delivery of Russian Tor-M1 air-defense systems to Iran.
"This is not related to and cannot be related to the Iranian nuclear file, as this deal is fully in line with all the norms of international law," Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister, told journalists.
Ivanov said Tor-M1s were small-range missile systems that were "purely defensive."
"This purely defensive weapon is designed for air defense purposes, and it cannot hit ground-based targets," he said.
Moscow and Tehran concluded a $700-million contract in late 2005 to deliver 29 Tor-M1s to Iran.
15:37 | 13/ 01/ 2006
MOSCOW/TEHRAN, January 13 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Defense Ministry and state arms trader Rosoboronexport denied media reports Friday that Moscow and Tehran were negotiating sales of S-300 air-defense missile systems.
"This does not correspond with reality," Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said. "No [Russian] military delegation was in Tehran, and no talks on S-300 [missiles] were held."
With tensions around the Islamic Republic running high after its resumption of nuclear research on Tuesday, some media reported Friday that a Russian delegation had broken off negotiations with Tehran on sales of the missiles and returned home on Monday. The move was alleged to have been in protest at Iran's imminent decision to restart its nuclear programs.
However, Rosoboronexport's Tehran branch also said earlier that a Russian delegation had not been involved in negotiations for sales of S-300 air-defense missiles to Iran in January.
"There were no talks with Iran on the issue [S-300 sales] in January this year," a Rosoboronexport official said. "Military-technical cooperation between Russia and Iran is conducted with strict compliance with Russia's international obligations."
Nevertheless, Ivanov said the situation around the Iranian "nuclear file" would not affect a contract on the delivery of Russian Tor-M1 air-defense systems to Iran.
"This is not related to and cannot be related to the Iranian nuclear file, as this deal is fully in line with all the norms of international law," Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister, told journalists.
Ivanov said Tor-M1s were small-range missile systems that were "purely defensive."
"This purely defensive weapon is designed for air defense purposes, and it cannot hit ground-based targets," he said.
Moscow and Tehran concluded a $700-million contract in late 2005 to deliver 29 Tor-M1s to Iran.