Iran cautions Russia on S-300 delivery

Iran’s Defense Minister says Tehran has cautioned Russia not to cave into Western “pressure” by reneging on a delayed deal to deliver S-300 defense systems.

“A lot of pressure has been exerted on the Russians, and they have so far proven their inability to reach the correct decision,” Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi told al-Alam television.

“We have repeatedly said that it would not be in Russia’s interests to present itself as an unreliable and undependable partner,” he added.

Vahidi further stressed that since the UN Sanctions Resolution 1929, which targets Iran’s military and financial sectors, does not specifically ban the delivery of defensive missiles, Moscow has no excuse for refusing to commit to the deal.

“We are not happy to see Russia belittled by the US and Israel, or to see them branded as their scribes,” the Iranian general told Fars News Agency earlier on Thursday.

On June 9, the UNSC imposed the US-engineered sanctions resolution against Iran over allegations by Israel and its allies that Tehran is following a military nuclear program.

Following weeks of mixed signals over whether it would use its veto right as a permanent member, Russia conceded to the sanctions efforts after reaching a deal with Washington.

On June 10, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Andrei Nesterenko, acknowledged that since the deal is not referenced in the fourth round of UNSC sanctions, Moscow is not obliged to freeze the delivery of the air defense missiles to Iran.

Moscow later claimed that upon better study of the sanctions resolution, it was freezing the delivery. The decision, which came after lengthy delays by Russia, was severely criticized by Iranian officials.