Russia Drafting Contract on S -300 Missile Sale to Iran
Moscow-Russia’s largest arms exporter Rosoboron export said it is preparing the contract to supply S-300 missile systems to Iran, the state company’s CEO Anatoly Isaikin said on Tuesday, according to IRNA.
‘The list of weapons prohibited to be delivered to Iran does not apply to a number of arms, including air defense systems, several types of radio electronics,’ he told Russia-24 television.
‘The Russian Federation through Rosoboron export is maintaining contacts exactly in these areas and delivering exactly these types of weapons to Iran,’ he added.
In 2007, Russia and Iran signed a $800-million deal for the delivery of five S-300 missile systems.
In 2011, Iran sued Rosoboron export in the Geneva Arbitration Court after Moscow suspended the contract in 2010, citing a UN Security Council resolution that placed an arms embargo on Tehran.
In April 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted the ban on the contract, shortly after Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers reached a nuclear agreement to remove all economic sanctions against Tehran in exchange for its pledge to cut back on uranium enrichment and the number of centrifuges.
Iran, China to develop air force cooperation
On the other hand in Beijing, Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Air Force Brigadier General Hassan Shahsafi and his Chinese counterpart General Ma Xiaotian on Sunday discussed expansion of mutual defense cooperation.
In a speech to a group of Iranian and Chinese officials, Shahsafi said his visit to China serves as an opportunity for expansion of cooperation between Iranian and Chinese army and air forces.
He urged further interaction between Iran and China in the air force domain.
He called for adopting effective measures to raise combat readiness of the Army and air forces of Iran and China.
Heading a high-ranking military delegation, Shahsafi arrived in Beijing on Sunday.
Shahsafi’s visit to Beijing is upon an invitation of Commander of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China General Ma Xiaotian to expand cooperation in different dimensions, training and strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
Upon his arrival to Beijing, Shahsafi was welcomed by senior officers of China’s Army Air Force and Iran’s Embassy representatives.
Iran’s Commander is scheduled to review cooperation with his Chinese counterpart General Ma Xiaotian.
R.S