Russia: No date for delivery of S-300 missile system to Iran

Moscow says work to send controversial armaments underway, but can’t confirm end-of-2015 timeline touted by Tehran

By AP and ToI Staff 26 May 2015, 4:26 pm

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Work is underway to fulfill Russia’s supply of advanced air-defense missiles to Iran, but no start date for the delivery has been set yet, a top Russian diplomat said Tuesday.

Russia in 2010 froze plans to supply S-300 missile systems to Iran, linking the decision to UN sanctions. But in April, President Vladimir Putin lifted the suspension after a framework agreement was reached that would restrict Iran’s capacity to produce nuclear weapons.

Tehran has spoken of the end of 2015 as the expected delivery date. On Tuesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying he could not “say anything for now” about the missiles’ delivery date.

“The negotiations on this subject were completed successfully. I estimate that the delivery of the S-300s will take place in a relatively period of short time,” Iranian Deputy Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said yesterday to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov looks on at the start of two days of closed-door nuclear talks in Geneva, October, 2013. (AP/Fabrice Coffrini)

Moscow believes the framework agreement signed between the P5+1 powers and Iran permits the delivery of the missiles without waiting for removal of sanctions intended to deter Tehran from developing its nuclear program.

The Russian move has been strongly criticized by the United States and Israel, with Israeli Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad calling it “an unfortunate decision which encourages aggression and the violent methods of the Iranian government.”