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Russia ready to sell S-300 missiles to Iran if sanctions fall

3 Apr 2015 - 16:41


Russia may resume a deal to deliver S-300 surface-to-air defense systems to Iran if only the UN decides to lift its ban on arms sales to Tehran, a leading Russian defense expert said on Friday.

Negotiators from�Iran, the United States and other world powers agreed on�Thursday to�a framework for�a final agreement to�curb Tehran�s nuclear program.

Iran agreed in�principle to�accept significant restrictions on�its nuclear facilities for�at least a decade and submit to�international inspections.

In return, economic sanctions unilaterally imposed on�the Islamic Republic by�the US and EU will be lifted.

Russia�s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov then said that a UN arms embargo against�Iran should also go.

"Lifting sanctions on�Iran, including the arms embargo, would be an absolutely logical thing to�do,� said Igor Korotchenko, who heads the Global Arms Trade Analysis Center think tank in�Moscow.

�Of key importance to�us is the delivery of�the upgraded S-300 missiles to�Iran� A contract to�this effect could be resumed on�terms acceptable to�both Moscow and Tehran,� he added.

In 2007, Russia contracted to�sell to�Iran $800 million worth of�S-300 missile units. Moscow suspended the contract in�2010 following�a UN security Council resolution to�stop the sale of�arms to�Iran due to�its controversial nuclear energy program.

Iran then sued Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport at�the OSCE Court of�Conciliation and Arbitration in�Geneva, with�Moscow eventually offering Tehran a settlement and a promise to�deliver the Antei-2500 missile systems at�a later date, which was not specified.

Tehran refused, insisting on�the implementation of�the original deal.

By Sputnik News

 


Story Code: 158274

News Link :
https://www.theiranproject.com/en/news/158274/russia-ready-to-sell-s-300-missiles-iran-if-sanctions-fall

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