Sputnik News- Israel has asked Russia not to sign big arms deals on delivery of advanced weapons to Iran, though, Moscow is likely to act in accordance with its own interests, local media reported Wednesday citing Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to Lieberman, this issue was raised, in particular, during the latest visit of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to Israel.

Earlier this week, the Russian upper house of parliament's defense committee chair Viktor Ozerov said that Russia and Iran were in talks on the supply of $10 billion worth of weapons and hardware, including T-90 tanks, artillery systems, aircraft and helicopters. "Obviously, this will not bring much pleasure to us.

At the same time, the Russians do not ask our opinion. We are talking and trying to understand [our position over arms sales to Iran], though, after all, every state is acting in accordance with its interests.

Russia is in financial distress and it operates according to its own interest," Lieberman told reporters, as quoted by the Haaretz newspaper. In October, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei told Sputnik in an interview that Tehran was looking for ways to broaden the scope of defense cooperation with Moscow, even in areas that require coordination with the UN Security Council (UNSC) and need a resolution.