Russia denies talks with Iran over S-300 missile shield delivery

Moscow, Dec 28 (UNI) Russia today denied media reports that it was conducting talks on the delivery of S-300 missile defence systems to Iran.

''The issue of the delivery of S-300 missile defence systems to Iran, raised by the media, is not a subject of current negotiations and has not been discussed with the Iranians,'' Russian Federal Agency for Military-Technical Cooperation said in a statement.

''Russia and Iran are continuing to develop cooperation in the military-technical sphere in full accordance with international arms export regulations and obligations,'' the statement said.

Press reports earlier said quoting Iranian Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar that Iran and Russia had agreed to deliver an unspecified number of advanced S-300 air defence complexes to Tehran, under a previously signed deal.

Russia supplied Iran with 29 Tor-M1 air defence missile systems last January under a 700-million dollar contract signed in late 2005. It also trained Iranian Tor-M1 specialists, including radar operators and crew commanders.

UNI