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Russia denies plans to deliver S-300 missiles to Iran | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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MOSCOW (AP) – The federal agency overseeing Russia’s military exports on Friday denied reports that the country is planning to deliver S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran.

Iran’s defense minister said this week that Russia is preparing to equip Iran with the missile systems that would dramatically increase the country’s ability to repel an attack.

But the Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service denied the claim in a brief statement. “The question of deliveries of S-300 systems to Iran, which has now arisen in the mass media, is not currently taking place, is not being considered and is not being discussed at this time with the Iranian side,” said the agency, known by its Russian initials, FSVTS.

The S-300 anti-aircraft missile defense system is capable of shooting down aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missile warheads at ranges of over 90 miles (145 kilometers) and at altitudes of about 90,000 feet (27,000 meters). Russian military officials boast that its capabilities outstrip the U.S. Patriot missile system.

The S-300 is an improvement over the Tor-M1 air defense missile system. Russia delivered 29 Tor-M1s to Iran this year under a US$700 million (¤486 million) contract signed in December 2005. Iranian media reports have claimed the S-300 missile systems could inflict significant damage on U.S. or Israeli forces, were they to attack Iran.

The United States had said in the past that it would not rule out military action as a way to halt Iran’s nuclear enrichment, claiming it was using the nuclear program as cover for weapons development. But earlier this month, Washington reversed course, concluding in an intelligence assessment that Iran stopped direct work on creating nuclear arms in 2003 and that the program remained frozen through at least the middle of this year.

Russia has provided Iran with submarines and military planes in recent decades.