Russia has signed a contract to supply Iran with surface-to-air missiles, something made possible by the lifting of sanctions on Iran as part of the nuclear agreement.
According to Russian officials, technical talks on the deal are still on-going, and the first batch of S-300 missiles could be delivered 18 months after Iran specifics which type it wants.
“The deal to supply the S-300 to Iran has not only been signed between the parties but it has already come into force,” Sergei Chemezov, head of Russia’s Rostec arms firm, said at the Dubai Airshow-2015.
The original $800 million contract for sale of the missiles was signed in 2007, but it was frozen by Russia in 2010 because of international sanctions. Russian President Vladimir Putin unfroze the contract in April after a framework nuclear agreement was reached.
The nuclear deal was agreed in July. The United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia are all opposed to the missile contract.
S-300 missiles are long-range surface-to-air missiles that can target and takedown aircraft, as well as other missiles. Iran says they are defensive in nature, but Israel and the U.S. fear they might be used in possible strikes against its nuclear facilities.
(h/t BBC)
