President Vladimir Putin on Monday lifted a ban on supplying Iran with sophisticated S-300 air defence missile systems after Tehran's landmark framework deal with the West over its nuclear programme.
A decree signed by Putin removed a ban on "the shipment from Russia to Iran" of the S-300 missiles and sparked fierce condemnation from Israel of Iran's perceived newfound "legitimacy" on the international stage.
The move was swiftly criticised by Israel and the US military.
The decision to pull the delivery ban comes before any sanctions have been lifted on Iran, with difficult technical negotiations still ahead following the breakthrough April 2 deal aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear drive.
"Our opposition to these sales is long and public. We believe it's unhelpful," Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren told reporters in Washington.
"We are raising that through the appropriate diplomatic channels," he added.
Moscow blocked deliveries of the surface-to-air missiles to Tehran in 2010 after the United Nations slapped sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme barring hi-tech weapons sales.
Iran then filed a $4-billion suit at an arbitration court in Geneva for the cancellation of the $800 million order by Russia, which has long been Iran's principal foreign arms supplier.
- 'Nothing is binding' -
The framework deal agreed in Lausanne this month marked a crucial advance in a 12-year standoff between Iran and the West, which disputes Tehran's denial that it is seeking to build a nuclear bomb.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted the missile deliveries were not covered by the earlier UN sanctions and that the progress made in Switzerland meant there was no longer any need for Russia to maintain the ban on the missile deliveries.
Global powers must resolve a series of contentious issues by a June 30 deadline for a final nuclear deal, including the steps for lifting global sanctions imposed on Iran, and lingering questions over the possible military dimensions of its nuclear programme.
Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who will have the final say on any deal, has plunged the accord into doubt suggesting that "nothing is binding" while President Hassan Rouhani demanded that sanctions be immediately lifted when any deal is signed.
Global powers Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States have said sanctions will only be gradually eased and want a mechanism to ensure they can be swiftly reimposed if Iran breaks its word.
Pentagon spokesman Warren said it was not immediately clear whether Putin's decision was in itself a violation of previously agreed international sanctions but added that "any sales of advanced technologies is cause of concern to us."
- 'Exclusively defensive' -
While not the most sophisticated of Russia's missile systems, the S-300 would bolster Iran's defences against any attack on its nuclear sites.
Neither Israel nor the United States have ruled out air strikes if Tehran pursues what Western powers fear is a bid to develop a nuclear bomb.
Israel -- which strongly opposed the initial missile deal -- lashed out at Russia's decision, saying it was proof that the Iranians were using the nuclear deal to arm themselves.
"This is a direct result of the legitimacy that Iran is receiving from the nuclear deal that is being prepared, and proof that the Iranian economic growth which follows the lifting of sanctions will be exploited for arming itself and not for the welfare of the Iranian people," Israeli Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz said in a statement.
But Lavrov insisted that the missile system was "exclusively defensive" and said it did not pose a threat to Iran's foes.
Despite the dispute over the S-300 missiles, Moscow and Iran have remained on good terms, with Russia agreeing to build new nuclear reactors for Tehran and both sides supporting President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
During a visit by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to Tehran in January, Iranian military officials said the two sides had "decided to settle the S-300s problem".
Russia's state arms company said in February that it had offered to supply Iran with Antey-2500 missiles, an upgraded version of the S-300 air defence system that figured in the previous contract.
As Russia has been hit by Western sanctions over its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, it has stepped up its economic ties with Iran in the past year.
President Vladimir Putin on Monday lifted a ban on supplying Iran with sophisticated S-300 air defence missile systems after Tehran’s landmark framework deal with the West over its nuclear programme.
A decree signed by Putin removed a ban on “the shipment from Russia to Iran” of the S-300 missiles and sparked fierce condemnation from Israel of Iran’s perceived newfound “legitimacy” on the international stage.
The move was swiftly criticised by Israel and the US military.
The decision to pull the delivery ban comes before any sanctions have been lifted on Iran, with difficult technical negotiations still ahead following the breakthrough April 2 deal aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear drive.
“Our opposition to these sales is long and public. We believe it’s unhelpful,” Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren told reporters in Washington.
“We are raising that through the appropriate diplomatic channels,” he added.
Moscow blocked deliveries of the surface-to-air missiles to Tehran in 2010 after the United Nations slapped sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme barring hi-tech weapons sales.
Iran then filed a $4-billion suit at an arbitration court in Geneva for the cancellation of the $800 million order by Russia, which has long been Iran’s principal foreign arms supplier.
– ‘Nothing is binding’ –
The framework deal agreed in Lausanne this month marked a crucial advance in a 12-year standoff between Iran and the West, which disputes Tehran’s denial that it is seeking to build a nuclear bomb.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted the missile deliveries were not covered by the earlier UN sanctions and that the progress made in Switzerland meant there was no longer any need for Russia to maintain the ban on the missile deliveries.
Global powers must resolve a series of contentious issues by a June 30 deadline for a final nuclear deal, including the steps for lifting global sanctions imposed on Iran, and lingering questions over the possible military dimensions of its nuclear programme.
Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who will have the final say on any deal, has plunged the accord into doubt suggesting that “nothing is binding” while President Hassan Rouhani demanded that sanctions be immediately lifted when any deal is signed.
Global powers Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States have said sanctions will only be gradually eased and want a mechanism to ensure they can be swiftly reimposed if Iran breaks its word.
Pentagon spokesman Warren said it was not immediately clear whether Putin’s decision was in itself a violation of previously agreed international sanctions but added that “any sales of advanced technologies is cause of concern to us.”
– ‘Exclusively defensive’ –
While not the most sophisticated of Russia’s missile systems, the S-300 would bolster Iran’s defences against any attack on its nuclear sites.
Neither Israel nor the United States have ruled out air strikes if Tehran pursues what Western powers fear is a bid to develop a nuclear bomb.
Israel — which strongly opposed the initial missile deal — lashed out at Russia’s decision, saying it was proof that the Iranians were using the nuclear deal to arm themselves.
“This is a direct result of the legitimacy that Iran is receiving from the nuclear deal that is being prepared, and proof that the Iranian economic growth which follows the lifting of sanctions will be exploited for arming itself and not for the welfare of the Iranian people,” Israeli Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz said in a statement.
But Lavrov insisted that the missile system was “exclusively defensive” and said it did not pose a threat to Iran’s foes.
Despite the dispute over the S-300 missiles, Moscow and Iran have remained on good terms, with Russia agreeing to build new nuclear reactors for Tehran and both sides supporting President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
During a visit by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to Tehran in January, Iranian military officials said the two sides had “decided to settle the S-300s problem”.
Russia’s state arms company said in February that it had offered to supply Iran with Antey-2500 missiles, an upgraded version of the S-300 air defence system that figured in the previous contract.
As Russia has been hit by Western sanctions over its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, it has stepped up its economic ties with Iran in the past year.
