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Iran and Russia sign $1 bln defense deal |
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Friday, 02 December 2005 |
 NCRI - Russia plans to sell more than $1 billion worth of tactical
surface-to-air missiles and other defense hardware to Iranian regime,
according to press on Friday.
Moscow is already at odds with the West over its nuclear ties with
Tehran. The regime is to buy 29 TOR-M1 systems designed to bring down
aircraft and guided missiles at low altitudes.
This is the biggest sale of Russian defense hardware to Iran for about
five years. Moscow and Tehran had already signed the contract.
Interfax news agency separately quoted a source as saying the deal,
which would also include modernizing Iran's air force and supplying
some patrol boats, was worth more than $1 billion.
The move could strain Moscow's efforts to broker a deal between Iranian
regime and European negotiators aimed at breaking a deadlock over
Tehran's nuclear program.
Israel in particular is nervous about Iran's military potential after
mullahs’ President Ahmadinejad said in October that Israel should be
"wiped off the map" - comments condemned by Russia at the time.
Western countries suspect Iran of seeking nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian atomic program.
One Western diplomat who closely watches Russia-Iran dealings told
Reuters that the news of the deal was alarming and would further
increase tensions.
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