Russia delivers Tor-M1 missiles to Iran: Russian Defence Min

Moscow, Jan 16 (UNI) Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov today announced that Russia completed the delivery of 29 Tor-M1 (Gauntlet SA-15) short-range surface-to-air missiles to Iran.

''We have delivered modern short-range air defence systems Tor-M1 to Iran,'' Interfax news agency quoted Ivanov as saying.

He also said no international sanctions applied to Iran.

''We are developing our cooperation with Iran relying on the provisions of international law and if Iran needs to procure defence weaponry, we are ready for such cooperation,'' Ivanov stressed.

Russia supplied Tor-M1 missiles to Iran under a 700 million dollar contract signed in 2005. Washington protested the deal, which it feared could boost the military capabilities of Iran.

Moscow has insisted the contract for the delivery of the Tor-M1 missiles to Iran was concluded in line with international law, and that the system was intended for defence purposes only.

Last December, the UN Security Council adopted a revised version of a resolution to punish Tehran for its refusal to its halt uranium enrichment, but Russia managed to uphold its economic interests and ensured the implementation of its earlier signed contracts with Iran, including on the construction of a light-water reactor in Bushehr and the delivery of the Tor-M1 and S-300 air defence systems.

The Tor-M1, developed by the Russian company Almaz-Antei, is a high-precision missile system designed to destroy aircraft, manned or unmanned, and cruise missiles flying at an altitude of up to 10 kilometres.

UNI