Russian missiles delivered to Iran: Ivanov

Moscow, Jan 17: Russia yesterday said it had delivered new anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran and would consider further requests by Tehran for defensive weapons.

The United States, which accuses Tehran of seeking nuclear arms and undermining security in the West Asia, acknowledged Moscow had violated no sanctions but said such deliveries to a 'state sponsor of terrorism' could only be frowned upon.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov, asked about the sale, told reporters in Moscow, ''We have supplied the modern short-range anti-aircraft systems TOR-M1 in accordance with our contracts.

''We're developing our military and technical cooperation with Iran in accordance with international law and will continue to develop it,'' he said. ''And if Iran wants to buy defensive, I underline defensive, equipment for its armed forces then why not?'' Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister and is seen as a potential successor to President Vladimir Putin, did not say how many missile systems had been delivered or when the deliveries took place.

Russian arms sales and nuclear cooperation with Iran have strained relations with Washington, which suspects Tehran of using a nuclear power programme to cover for development of atomic weapons.

Russia, building Iran's first nuclear power plant in Bushehr, says Tehran does not have the capability to make nuclear weapons.

Iran says it has a right to develop its civilian nuclear sector and denies seeking nuclear arms.

A defence ministry source later told Reuters deliveries of hardware under the 1 billion dollars TOR-M1 missile deal had not yet been completed.

NO SANCTIONS

Late last year Russia reluctantly joined UN sanctions against Iran, which introduced restrictions on Iran's trade in sensitive nuclear materials and technology, aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

But Moscow says the sanctions do not apply to the missile systems, which are designed to shoot down aircraft, missiles and other weapons at medium and low altitudes.

''The UN resolution that was accepted and for which the Russian Federation voted, does not apply to contracts made by Iran,'' Ivanov said.

In Washington, a spokesman for the US State Department said conventional weapons contracts with Iran were still frowned upon.

''Certainly we don't think that providing military sales to governments like Iran that are state sponsors of terrorism and that have a negative track record is a positive thing,'' said State Department spokesman Tom Casey.

Russia dropped the idea of selling longer-range S300 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran last year, Russian news agencies have reported.

The US last year imposed sanctions on leading Russian arms firms over arms sales to Iran and Syria. One of the firms, Rosoboronexport, Russia's biggest arms exporter, is headed by an old colleague from Putin's KGB's past, Sergei Chemezov.

REUTERS

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