Russia suspends S-300 deal with Iran

Following continued delays in the delivery of the S-300 defense systems to Iran, a senior Russian commander says Moscow has decided to suspend the deal.

“A decision has been taken not to supply the S-300 to Iran, they undoubtedly fall under sanctions,” chief of the Russian General Staff, Gen. Nikolai Makarov said on Wednesday.

“The authorities decided to suspend the process of supplies,” ITAR-TASS News Agency quoted Makarov as saying.

Under a contract signed in 2005, Russia was required to provide Iran with at least five S-300 air-defense systems. However, Moscow’s continuous delays in delivering the defense system drew criticism from Tehran on several occasions.

Following the adoption of Resolution 1929 by UN Security Council (UNSC) against Iran, Russian authorities began making conflicting statements about how the new sanctions would affect the contract.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in June that Moscow would “freeze the delivery of the S-300 missiles” to Iran as it runs counter to the new round of UN Security Council sanctions on the country.

Putin’s remarks came as Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had earlier said that UN sanctions would not affect the S-300 contract with Iran, as these missiles are “defensive weapons” and do not fall under the terms of the sanctions.

The S-300 missile defense system is capable of shielding Iranian nuclear sites against a potential Israeli air strike.

Israel and its Western allies accuse Iran of following a military nuclear program and Tel Aviv has repeatedly threatened Tehran with an attack on its nuclear facilities.

Tehran rejects the charges, arguing that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Iran has a right to the peaceful applications of nuclear technology.

Makarov did not give a definite answer to the question whether the contract would be terminated.