Moscow, Tehran to ink S-300 delivery contract in near future

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

Russia and Iran are preparing to sign a contract on the sale of Russian S-300 missile defense systems to Iran in the near future.

“The negotiations are continuing, the contract will be signed in the near future. All political decisions have been made, there are no obstacles,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by Sputnik news agency on September 9.

Moscow and Tehran has reached an agreement on delivery of the S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system to Iran by the end of 2015.

Under the $800 million contract, signed in 2007 by the two countries, Russia was to deliver the S-300s Iran. It, however, cancelled the contract in the wake of UN sanctions.

In turn, Tehran went as far as filing a $4 billion lawsuit against Rosoboron Export, Russia’s intermediary agency for exports and imports of defense-related and dual use products, technologies and services, with Geneva's arbitration court. Iran said it has no intention to withdraw the lawsuit until it receives the missile systems.

Recently, a Russian expert stated Moscow and Tehran would reach an agreement on the supply of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems.

Vladimir Sotnikov, a senior fellow at the International Security Center of the World Economy and International Relations Institute and the Near and Middle East Department of the RAS Institute of Oriental Studies told Trend that it was previously reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin was invited to Tehran.

He said if Putin's visit somehow takes place, the parties would solve this issue.

Sotnikov further said relations between Russia and Iran are strong and the issue would be resolved at last, adding that the details of the agreement will be considered at the highest level.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree in mid-April to lift a ban on the supply of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran.

The U.S. has expressed concern over Moscow’s announcement arguing the sale would create instability in the Middle East.

The decision to deliver the missile systems came after Iran and the P5+1 group of countries reached a mutual understanding on Tehran’s nuclear program in Lausanne on April 2.

The recent nuclear deal between P5+1 and Iran, made it easier for the two countries to realize the delivery of missiles.