Russia lifts ban on delivery of S-300 missiles to Iran

[webfact]

Russia lifts ban on delivery of S-300 missiles to Iran
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin on Monday sanctioned the delivery of a highly capable Russian air defense missile system to Iran, a game changer move that would significantly bolster the Islamic republic's military capability and fuel Israel's concerns.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry objected to Moscow's decision in a phone call to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and the White House indicated the move could endanger plans to ultimately lift sanctions on Iran as part of a proposed nuclear deal.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said unity and coordination with nations like Russia is critical to the success of the negotiations. Washington has said Moscow played a constructive role in the Iranian nuclear talks, despite sharp differences between Russia and the West over Ukraine.

Putin's move was quickly welcomed by Tehran, while it worried Israel, which saw it as a sign that Iran already had begun to cash in on the emerging nuclear deal with world powers that is expected to be finalized by the end of June.

Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the missile system could be shipped to Iran at any moment.

Russia signed the $800 million contract to sell Iran the S-300 missile system in 2007, but suspended their delivery three years later because of strong objections from the United States and Israel. Putin on Monday lifted that ban.

The preliminary agreement on settling the Iranian nuclear standoff struck earlier this month made the 2010 Russian ban unnecessary, Lavrov said in a televised statement.

The framework agreement reached by Iran and six world powers is intended to significantly restrict its ability to produce nuclear weapons while giving it relief from international sanctions. The agreement is supposed to be finalized by June 30, and there is no firm agreement yet on how or when to lift the international sanctions on Iran.

The S-300 missile system, which has a range of up to 200 kilometers (125 miles) and the capability to track down and strike multiple targets simultaneously, is one of the most potent air defense weapons in the world.

"The S-300 is exclusively a defensive weapon, which can't serve offensive purposes and will not jeopardize the security of any country, including, of course, Israel," Lavrov said.

Deployed in big numbers, the system could provide a strong deterrent against any air attack. If Israel decides to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, the S-300s would further complicate the already daunting task.

Israeli Cabinet minister Yuval Steinitz said the framework nuclear agreement helped legitimize Iran and cleared the way for Monday's announcement by Russia.

"This is a direct result of the legitimacy that Iran obtained from the emerging nuclear deal," Steinitz said. "Instead of demanding Iran stop its terror activities that it spreads in the Middle East and the entire world, it is being allowed to arm itself with advanced weapons that will only increase its aggression."

Israel has harshly criticized the U.S.-led nuclear deal, saying it would give Iran relief from sanctions while leaving its nuclear program largely intact. Israel believes Iran still intends to develop a nuclear weapon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn't specifically mention the Russian move Monday, but poured scorn on the proposed nuclear agreement, saying that "Iran draws encouragement from the concessions that it is receiving from the major powers."

"It is a deal that leaves Iran in possession of the capability to arm itself with nuclear weapons, that fills its coffers with a lot of money and that not only enables it to continue its terrorism and aggression in the Middle East and around the world but does not even demand that it stop doing so," he said.

Moscow's plans to sell the S-300s to Iran long have been an irritant in Russia-Israeli relations. In recent years, Israel has refrained from providing sophisticated weapons to Georgia and Ukraine as part of an "understanding" with Russia that it not sell the s300s to Iran — a position that now may change.

Russian officials previously said that the specific model of the S-300 that Russia was to deliver under the 2007 contract is no longer produced, and offered Iran a modified version of it called S-300VM, or Antey-2500.

But instead of manufacturing new missile systems for Iran, Russia may provide some S-300s from its own military arsenals. In that case, the delivery may happen quickly.

In Tehran, Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Hossein Dehghan welcomed Russia's decision to lift the ban. "The decision is the translation of political determination of leaders of both countries for improving and promoting cooperation levels in all fields," Gen. Dehghan was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as saying.

Back in 2010, Russia linked its decision to freeze the missiles' delivery to the sanctions the United Nations Security Council imposed on Iran over its nuclear program, but Lavrov argued Monday that the Russian move was voluntary and not directly required by the U.N. resolutions.

"It was done in the spirit of good will in order to encourage progress in talks," Lavrov said. "We are convinced that at this stage there is no longer need for such an embargo, specifically for a separate, voluntary Russian embargo."

Iran responded to the Russian ban by filing a lawsuit with a court in Geneva seeking $4 billion in damages for breach of contract, but the court has not issued a ruling.

Lavrov said that Russia had to take into account "commercial and reputational" issues linked to freezing the contract.

"Because of the suspension of the contract, Russia has failed to receive significant funds," he said. "We see no need to continue doing that."

He added that Iran badly needs modern air defense systems because of a tense situation in the region, specifically in Yemen.

Observers said the go-ahead on the S-300 deliveries could reflect Moscow's maneuvering to secure a niche at the lucrative Iranian market before other powers move in.

Vladimir Sazhin, an expert on Iran with the Moscow-based Institute for Eastern Studies, said the move came "at the turning point, when the Iranian market is becoming a strong attraction."

"Preparation is already going on for the day when the sanctions are lifted and everyone will rush to Iran," he was quoted by Interfax as saying.

Lifting the ban could also mark an attempt by the Kremlin to raise the heat on Washington and its allies and make them more willing to listen to Russian arguments in the Ukraine crisis.
___

Lynn Berry in Moscow, Josef Federman and Ian Deitch in Jerusalem and Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-04-14

[cup-O-coffee]

I don't get it. What's the big deal? It's not as if so-called Americans and Europeans aren't guilty of being in support of their own leaders from doing that and much more. US military budget annually totals more than all other nations combined.

I have no problem with Iran. It's a country many thousands of miles away, and every Iranian I meet when out and about are truly kind and generous and seriously interested in my thoughts about world events.

Iran is a great country with a great history, cultural values, traditions, etc. and moreover has not attacked anyone in over 200 years.

How many military bases does Iran have all over the world?

[ezzra]

Excellent timing, just when the world is trying to alleviate it's skepticism of Iran, here comes that bit of news, what next? Russia sells nuclear subs to Iran?

[Expat1]

Outstanding. About time.

[asiamaster]

Good, they need to up their defense in case Israel gets more funny ideas....

[canman]

I don't get it. What's the big deal? It's not as if so-called Americans and Europeans aren't guilty of being in support of their own leaders from doing that and much more. US military budget annually totals more than all other nations combined.

I have no problem with Iran. It's a country many thousands of miles away, and every Iranian I meet when out and about are truly kind and generous and seriously interested in my thoughts about world events.

Iran is a great country with a great history, cultural values, traditions, etc. and moreover has not attacked anyone in over 200 years.

How many military bases does Iran have all over the world?

The problem is not with the Iranian people or the country, the problem is with the Iranian state, those who hold the power in Iran and what their agenda is. The Mullahs hold the power, the state backs internatonal terrorism, wish to spread islam and sharia law across the planet and have a stated aim of wiping Isreal of the map. Obama seems hell bent on letting Iran aquire nukes and putting in place such a sophisticated SAM system will ensure neutralising the nuclear threat from Iran becomes orders of magnatude more difficult.

A state which supports, funds and exports the terrorist ideal of islam, has nukes and also posseses the means to defend themselves is not in the west's interest and must not be allowed to happen.

[lucky11]

I don't get it. What's the big deal? It's not as if so-called Americans and Europeans aren't guilty of being in support of their own leaders from doing that and much more. US military budget annually totals more than all other nations combined.

I have no problem with Iran. It's a country many thousands of miles away, and every Iranian I meet when out and about are truly kind and generous and seriously interested in my thoughts about world events.

Iran is a great country with a great history, cultural values, traditions, etc. and moreover has not attacked anyone in over 200 years.

How many military bases does Iran have all over the world?

The problem is not with the Iranian people or the country, the problem is with the Iranian state, those who hold the power in Iran and what their agenda is. The Mullahs hold the power, the state backs internatonal terrorism, wish to spread islam and sharia law across the planet and have a stated aim of wiping Isreal of the map. Obama seems hell bent on letting Iran aquire nukes and putting in place such a sophisticated SAM system will ensure neutralising the nuclear threat from Iran becomes orders of magnatude more difficult.

A state which supports, funds and exports the terrorist ideal of islam, has nukes and also posseses the means to defend themselves is not in the west's interest and must not be allowed to happen.

"A state which has the means to defend itself is not in the West's interests"!!!

Why should it be? Americans have the right to defend themselves by buying nice shiny guns so why shouldn't Iran hold 'defensive weapons' notice, to protect themselves from an attack by Israel?

America seems to develop ideals that are for it's own interests and purposes and is vehemently against every others - all in the name of national security (of itself) of course!!

You can bet that if the US could somehow sell weapons to Iran it would be beating at the door to be let in!!

[wabothai]

Iran's only foe in the region is Israel. I don't believe that the US is going

to provide air defense systems for Iran. If the Russians do, I see nothing

wrong with that politically.

Weapons are terrible beasts anyway.

[johna]

I'm very happy to hear that Iran may soon have the means to defend herself from foreign aggression.

[Baerboxer]

I don't get it. What's the big deal? It's not as if so-called Americans and Europeans aren't guilty of being in support of their own leaders from doing that and much more. US military budget annually totals more than all other nations combined.

I have no problem with Iran. It's a country many thousands of miles away, and every Iranian I meet when out and about are truly kind and generous and seriously interested in my thoughts about world events.

Iran is a great country with a great history, cultural values, traditions, etc. and moreover has not attacked anyone in over 200 years.

How many military bases does Iran have all over the world?

Wow - not attacked anyone in over 200 years.

I must be older than I thought - seems like the Iran / Iraq war was much more recent.

[lucky11]

I don't get it. What's the big deal? It's not as if so-called Americans and Europeans aren't guilty of being in support of their own leaders from doing that and much more. US military budget annually totals more than all other nations combined.

I have no problem with Iran. It's a country many thousands of miles away, and every Iranian I meet when out and about are truly kind and generous and seriously interested in my thoughts about world events.

Iran is a great country with a great history, cultural values, traditions, etc. and moreover has not attacked anyone in over 200 years.

How many military bases does Iran have all over the world?

Wow - not attacked anyone in over 200 years.

I must be older than I thought - seems like the Iran / Iraq war was much more recent.

What!! you mean the war where Saddam Hussein ATTACKED Iran??

[sandrabbit]

I don't get it. What's the big deal? It's not as if so-called Americans and Europeans aren't guilty of being in support of their own leaders from doing that and much more. US military budget annually totals more than all other nations combined.

I have no problem with Iran. It's a country many thousands of miles away, and every Iranian I meet when out and about are truly kind and generous and seriously interested in my thoughts about world events.

Iran is a great country with a great history, cultural values, traditions, etc. and moreover has not attacked anyone in over 200 years.

How many military bases does Iran have all over the world?

Wow - not attacked anyone in over 200 years.

I must be older than I thought - seems like the Iran / Iraq war was much more recent.

That was Iraqi aggression. I agree with coffee about the Iranian people and they are not religious nuts, hardly any of them go to Friday prayers and about 50% of them drink alcohol. I do also agree with canman in the Iranian state being the problem, when I worked there people told me that the previous government weren't Farsee (Persian - Iranian) they were Palestinian & Syrian.

[canman]

Iran's only foe in the region is Israel. I don't believe that the US is going

to provide air defense systems for Iran. If the Russians do, I see nothing

wrong with that politically.

Weapons are terrible beasts anyway.

"Iran's only foe in the region is Israel"

Oh really?? What about Saudi? Once Iran have a nuke what do yuo think the Sauds are going to do?

[arjunadawn]

I don't get it. What's the big deal? It's not as if so-called Americans and Europeans aren't guilty of being in support of their own leaders from doing that and much more. US military budget annually totals more than all other nations combined.

I have no problem with Iran. It's a country many thousands of miles away, and every Iranian I meet when out and about are truly kind and generous and seriously interested in my thoughts about world events.

Iran is a great country with a great history, cultural values, traditions, etc. and moreover has not attacked anyone in over 200 years.

How many military bases does Iran have all over the world?

Yes... and no!

That Iran has not attacked anyone for 200 years is simply untrue.

That Iran has military bases in the world is demonstrably true.

Yes, many Iranians I meet are charming and gracious. But this is usually how things are once past the polices of any government. It is always the regular folks who get screwed.

[Chicog]

I don't get it. What's the big deal? It's not as if so-called Americans and Europeans aren't guilty of being in support of their own leaders from doing that and much more. US military budget annually totals more than all other nations combined.

I have no problem with Iran. It's a country many thousands of miles away, and every Iranian I meet when out and about are truly kind and generous and seriously interested in my thoughts about world events.

Iran is a great country with a great history, cultural values, traditions, etc. and moreover has not attacked anyone in over 200 years.

How many military bases does Iran have all over the world?

Yes... and no!

That Iran has not attacked anyone for 200 years is simply untrue.

That Iran has military bases in the world is demonstrably true.

Yes, many Iranians I meet are charming and gracious. But this is usually how things are once past the polices of any government. It is always the regular folks who get screwed.

It is true that Iran has used its military wing (Hizbollah) to attack targets, but usually in response to assassinations by the Israelis.

[chuckd]

Iran bases of operation can be found where they have military advisers and troops, volunteer or otherwise.

How about Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and anywhere they have an Embassy.

No enemies?

They are the leading Shiite nation so every Sunni nation is their enemy.

Brings to mind, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco to name just a few.

[chuckd]

One more of Obama's "red lines" gets turned to dust.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Russian Missile Sales to Iran Cross White House ‘Red Line’

BY: Adam Kredo

April 14, 2015 5:00 am

Russia’s announcement on Monday that it will proceed with the sale of advanced missile systems to Iran crosses a so-called “red line” established by the Obama administration in 2010, according to comments by senior administration officials.

Following years of dissent from the United States, Russia announced on Monday that it would proceed with the sale of the advanced S-300 air defense missile system to Iran, which has been vying to purchase the hardware for years.

The announcement sparked criticism from the Obama administration, which has been pressuring Iran since at least 2010 to withhold the sale.

Article here: http://freebeacon.com/national-security/russian-missile-sales-to-iran-cross-white-house-red-line/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The "red line" is described here in an article from 2010.

"The officials explained that the Obama administration made clear to Medvedev and other Russian officials that the sale of the S-300 to Iran was a red line that couldn’t be crossed, and one that was raised in every high-level meeting between the two countries. Israeli officials did the same in meetings with their Russian counterparts."

http://foreignpolicy.com/2010/09/23/how-the-obama-team-convinced-russia-not-to-sell-arms-to-iran/?wp_login_redirect=0

[konying]

I don't get it. What's the big deal? It's not as if so-called Americans and Europeans aren't guilty of being in support of their own leaders from doing that and much more. US military budget annually totals more than all other nations combined.

I have no problem with Iran. It's a country many thousands of miles away, and every Iranian I meet when out and about are truly kind and generous and seriously interested in my thoughts about world events.

Iran is a great country with a great history, cultural values, traditions, etc. and moreover has not attacked anyone in over 200 years.

How many military bases does Iran have all over the world?

Yes... and no!

That Iran has not attacked anyone for 200 years is simply untrue.

That Iran has military bases in the world is demonstrably true.

Yes, many Iranians I meet are charming and gracious. But this is usually how things are once past the polices of any government. It is always the regular folks who get screwed.

It is true that Iran has used its military wing (Hizbollah) to attack targets, but usually in response to assassinations by the Israelis.

Israel has something to do with Syria or Yemen or Iraq ?

Do tell, love to hear it

[Jingthing]

This is going to make Obama's fabulous "deal" (such a deal ...) even harder to sell to congress and the American people ... yes, even democrats.

[JingerBen]

This is going to make Obama's fabulous "deal" (such a deal ...) even harder to sell to congress and the American people ... yes, even democrats.

That's what the Zionist Lobby in Washington is hoping for... a monkeywrench in the machinery.

[Jingthing]

This is going to make Obama's fabulous "deal" (such a deal ...) even harder to sell to congress and the American people ... yes, even democrats.

That's what the Zionist Lobby in Washington is hoping for... a monkeywrench in the machinery.

Israel is not the only nation with a deep interest in Iran not obtaining nuclear WEAPONS. But if you want to obsess with the demonization of the world's only Jewish state ... whatever, dude.

[JingerBen]

This is going to make Obama's fabulous "deal" (such a deal ...) even harder to sell to congress and the American people ... yes, even democrats.

That's what the Zionist Lobby in Washington is hoping for... a monkeywrench in the machinery.

Israel is not the only nation with a deep interest in Iran not obtaining nuclear WEAPONS. But if you want to obsess with the demonization of the world's only Jewish state ... whatever, dude.

You've played that card too often.

Give it up, dude.

[Chicog]

I don't get it. What's the big deal? It's not as if so-called Americans and Europeans aren't guilty of being in support of their own leaders from doing that and much more. US military budget annually totals more than all other nations combined.

I have no problem with Iran. It's a country many thousands of miles away, and every Iranian I meet when out and about are truly kind and generous and seriously interested in my thoughts about world events.

Iran is a great country with a great history, cultural values, traditions, etc. and moreover has not attacked anyone in over 200 years.

How many military bases does Iran have all over the world?

Yes... and no!

That Iran has not attacked anyone for 200 years is simply untrue.

That Iran has military bases in the world is demonstrably true.

Yes, many Iranians I meet are charming and gracious. But this is usually how things are once past the polices of any government. It is always the regular folks who get screwed.

It is true that Iran has used its military wing (Hizbollah) to attack targets, but usually in response to assassinations by the Israelis.

Israel has something to do with Syria or Yemen or Iraq ?

Do tell, love to hear it

Have you ever heard of the phrase non sequitur?

[Scott]

Posts removed.

Please don't feed the trolls.

[konying]

Have you ever heard of the phrase non sequitur?

Love to hear more, do tell

PS. did you have to google search it to copy and paste it?

[NickJ]

Its just the first sale....Id be more worried about the subs and attack heliocopters coming down the pipeline.....and then the joint millitary games.......

[konying]

Like it or not, this was expected after US fiasco with Ukraine.

Did US administration think Putin will just take the abuse and crawl into a corner.

I am afraid, this is only the start, more to follow to undermine US everywhere else.

Already some UN members are advising US to listen to Russian advice on Syria,(though unsure what the actual advice was)

One thing you can not take away from Putin is that he is an excellent tactician and plays very well.

Only US is surprised, this was most certainly expected and the more US and NATO play around Russian borders, there would be more sales to come and not always to the friendliest people on this planet.

[Steely Dan]

Iran's only foe in the region is Israel. I don't believe that the US is going

to provide air defense systems for Iran. If the Russians do, I see nothing

wrong with that politically.

Weapons are terrible beasts anyway.

Breathtaking nonsense, Iran is involved militarily in four Arab Countries and supplies arms to at least two terrorist organizations, namely Hamas and Hizbollah. It doesn't take a genius to conclude any arms supplied to Iran will turn up in the hands of terrorists.

P.s it is actually refreshing to see some leftists actually applauding this deal which bolsters a regime with amongst the worst human rights records in the world and is the world's biggest sponsor of terrorism to boot. At least they can't be accused of being a fifth column as their allegiance to enemies of the West is out in the open.

[Happy Grumpy]

An air defense system.

How DARE they.

[Jingthing]

There is some good news about this.

Apparently, these new tools for Iran do not cut off the military option against their nuclear weapons program, assuming they will continue with that, whether the current "deal" is signed or not.

Makes it more difficult, but doesn't eliminate the option.