http://www.defensenews.com/story.php...5150&C=mideast
http://www.newswatch50.com/news/nati...0-3489741f1bf5
http://tinyurl.com/y7k897
http://debka.com/headline.php?hid=3736
http://www.woai.com/news/national/st...0-3489741f1bf5
http://www.abc4.com/news/national/st...0-3489741f1bf5
http://www.whptv.com/news/national/s...0-3489741f1bf5



MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Tuesday it had delivered new
anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran and would consider further
requests by Tehran for defensive weapons.

Washington and Israel, who accuse Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear
arms and undermining security in the region, have criticized the sale
of TOR-M1 missiles. Tehran, they say, could use them against its
neighbors.

"We have supplied the modern short-range anti-aircraft systems TOR-M1
in accordance with our contracts," Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told
reporters when asked about the sale.

"We're developing our military and technical cooperation with Iran in
accordance with international law and will continue to develop it," he
said. "And if Iran wants to buy defensive, I underline defensive,
equipment for its armed forces then why not?"

Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister and is seen as a potential
successor to President Vladimir Putin, did not say how many missile
systems had been delivered or when the deliveries took place.

Russian arms sales and nuclear cooperation with Iran have strained
relations with Washington, which suspects Tehran of using a nuclear
power program as cover for development of atomic weapons.

Russia, building Iran's first nuclear power plant in Bushehr, says
Tehran does not have the capability to make nuclear weapons. Iran says
it has a right to develop its civilian nuclear sector and denies
seeking nuclear arms. Continued...

A defense ministry source later told Reuters deliveries of hardware
under the $1 billion TOR-M1 missile deal had not yet been completed.

NO SANCTIONS

Late last year Russia reluctantly joined U.N. sanctions against Iran,
which introduced restrictions on Iran's trade in sensitive nuclear
materials and technology, aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

But Moscow says the sanctions do not apply to the missile systems,
which are designed to shoot down aircraft, missiles and other weapons
at medium and low altitudes.


"Iran is not under any sanctions," Ivanov said. "The U.N resolution
that was accepted and for which the Russian Federation voted, does not
apply to contracts made by Iran."

The Russian military insists that the missile systems will protect Iran
from air attacks, but do not pose a threat to neighboring countries.

Russia dropped the idea of selling longer-range S300 anti-aircraft
missiles to Iran last year, Russian news agencies have reported.

The U.S last year imposed sanctions on leading Russian arms firms over
arms sales to Iran and Syria. One of the firms, Rosoboronexport,
Russia's biggest arms exporter, is headed by an old colleague from
Putin's KGB's past, Sergei Chemezov.