MOSCOW: Russia will decide whether to deliver sophisticated S-300 air defense systems to Iran based on the “international situation,” a government source here was quoted as saying yesterday.
“The further implementation of the contract depends in large part on the developing international situation and the decision of the country’s leaders,” said the source in the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, which oversees Russian arms sales, quoted by Interfax and RIA-Novosti.
“The S-300 systems have not yet been delivered within the framework of the contract concluded two years ago,” the source said.
Russia’s plans to sell S-300 air defense systems to Iran have attracted criticism from the United States and Israel, both of which suspect Tehran of trying to develop nuclear weapons.
Neither the United States or Israel has ruled out attacks on Iran’s atomic facilities, which Tehran insists are intended only for peaceful purposes.
The Russian air defense facilities could potentially hinder such attacks.
