Russia's defence minister has confirmed that Moscow intends to honour a controversial deal to supply Iran with surface-to-air missiles. Posted on 05/26/2006 10:42:31 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Russia's defence minister has confirmed that Moscow intends to honour a controversial deal to supply Iran with surface-to-air missiles.
The contract for up to 30 missile systems would be fulfilled except in "extraordinary circumstances", Sergei Ivanov said, without elaborating.
He stressed that, because of their technical characteristics, the missiles could not be used by terrorist groups.
The $700m (£380m) deal, signed last year, has been condemned by the US.
Washington wants all countries to stop exporting weapons to Iran. Russia insists its short-range Tor-M1 system is purely defensive.
"As far as Russia's position is concerned, we strictly abide by all non-proliferation regimes, and when we hear reproaches that Russia is secretly helping Iran - it is just propaganda," the Interfax news agency quoted Mr Ivanov as saying.
He made the comments following a meeting with his German counterpart, Franz Josef Jung in St Petersburg.
Russia, along with China, is strongly against attempts to impose United Nations sanctions on Iran, which the US accuses of pursuing nuclear weapons.
Iranians seem to have a problem with neckties.
Their generals dress like bus drivers in El Ley.
Are these the same SAM systems that the USSR sold to Iraq?
You mean, like the Iranian administration? They're going to be awfully ticked when they find out they can't even use them.
(oh, that's not what he meant?)
Maybe a arms shipment to Chechnya could be used for "defensive" purposes only.
Russia's defence minister has confirmed that Moscow intends to honour a controversial deal to supply Iran with surface-to-air missiles.
The contract for up to 30 missile systems would be fulfilled except in "extraordinary circumstances", Sergei Ivanov said, without elaborating.
"As far as Russia's position is concerned, we strictly abide by all non-proliferation regimes, and when we hear reproaches that Russia is secretly helping Iran - it is just propaganda," the Interfax news agency quoted Mr Ivanov as saying.
Russia, along with China, is strongly against attempts to impose United Nations sanctions on Iran, which the US accuses of pursuing nuclear weapons.
That about sums it up... we follow the rules except when we don't, and aren't helping Iran even though we are.
No. Iraq didn't operate the SA-15 (GAUNTLET).
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