Russia must reimburse Iran for S-300

As Russia refuses to deliver sophisticated S-300 missile defense system to Iran, a top Iranian lawmaker says Moscow must compensate Tehran for its unilateral violation of the deal.

“Russia must pay compensation to Iran with regard to its (refusal) to deliver the missile,” Mehr news agency quoted Head of Majlis (Parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi as saying on Tuesday.

He expressed hope that Russia would implement the agreement and not be influenced by the US pressure and said Tehran would make efforts to settle the dispute with Moscow.

“In the second step, if Russia has finalized its decision about the S-300 missiles, it should adopt measures to pay compensation to Iran,” Boroujerdi added.

The Iranian lawmaker emphasized that the two countries need no third legal entity to solve the problem.

“We will try to reach an agreement with Russia and there is no need to a legal entity to resolve this problem,” he added. “If we do not reach an agreement, we may need a legal entity.”

After continuous delays and mixed signals regarding the delivery of the sophisticated S-300 missile defense system to Iran, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a decree in September prohibiting the delivery of the defensive system to Tehran.

Despite Iran’s strong objection to the Russian move, Moscow argues that the ban is justified under the UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1929 against the Islamic Republic.

Iran, however, rejects Russia’s justification, arguing that the contract concerns a purely defensive system and that the system was supposed to be delivered long before the UNSC resolution.

On June 9, the UNSC passed a new US-engineered anti-Iran sanctions resolution over unsubstantiated claims that Tehran’s nuclear program may include a hidden military application.

Tehran has repeatedly rejected the claims, saying that its nuclear program is aimed at producing energy for peaceful purposes.

Iran also says Russia’s refusal to deliver the system to the country is in violation of a contract between the two countries, warning that it may sue Russia over the cancellation.

Earlier in October, Russian Technologies chief Sergei Chemezov said his country is planning to reimburse Iran for cancellation of a contract to deliver the S-300 missile defense system to Iran.

“We are now preparing all the necessary documents. Talks are underway on how to compensate for Iran’s outlay,” he said.

The official, whose company includes arms exporting monopoly Rosoboronexport, said that Russia was unlikely to reimburse Iran by the end of the current year and refused to put a figure on the amount Moscow intends to return to Tehran.