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NUKEWARS
Russia lifts ban on supplying S-300 missiles to Iran
By Max DELANY
Moscow (AFP) April 14, 2015


Netanyahu to Putin: lifting missile ban to boost Iran 'aggressiveness'
Jerusalem (AFP) April 14, 2015 - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed Israel's "grave concerns" Tuesday over Moscow's decision to lift a ban on supplying Iran with sophisticated S-300 air defence missile systems.

In a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he warned that such a step "would only increase Iran's aggressiveness in the region and would undermine the security of the Middle East," his office said.

The Kremlin said that, during the call, initiated by Netanyahu, "Putin explained in detail the logic of actions of the Russian leadership."

An ensuing statement from the Israeli premier called the "sale of advanced weaponry to Iran" a "direct result of the dangerous deal on the table between Iran and the P5+1," a reference to major world powers.

"Can anyone still seriously claim that the deal with Iran will enhance security in the Middle East," Netanyahu asked.

Tehran had said Moscow's move, announced Monday, would be a step towards "lasting security" in the region.

The United States too objected to Russia lifting the ban.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said: "given Iran's destabilising actions in the region, in places like Yemen or Syria or Lebanon, that this isn't the time to be selling these kinds of system to them."

The S-300's capabilities are not fully known, but would be a major upgrade of the country's defences.

While the updated V-series would allow Iran to intercept missiles fired by regional foes such as Saudi Arabia, experts say they would not be a match for the latest US war planes.

Neither the United States nor Israel have ruled out military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities as a means of preventing the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The Russian decision followed the April 2 framework deal between Iran and six world powers aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear programme, ahead of talks on a definitive agreement.

Russia had agreed to sell the missiles to Iran in 2007, but called off the deal two years later to show its dedication to the nuclear talks, in which it is working alongside fellow permanent UN Security Council members Britain, China, France and the United States, plus Germany.

In remarks in Madrid, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tuesday the talks would resume next week, ahead of a June 30 deadline for a final deal.

Iran is demanding that crippling sanctions be immediately lifted when any deal is signed.

But the world powers have said sanctions will only be gradually eased and want a mechanism to ensure they can be swiftly reimposed if Iran breaks its word.

Israel strongly opposes the emerging deal, which it fears will be unable to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, should it choose to do so.

Iran denies it is seeking to acquire a nuclear bomb.

President Vladimir Putin on Monday lifted a ban on supplying Iran with sophisticated S-300 air defence missile systems after Tehran struck a landmark framework deal with the West over its nuclear programme.

While Iran welcomed the development, it sparked strong condemnation from Israel and triggered concern in Washington.

A decree signed by Putin gave the go-ahead for "the shipment from Russia to Iran", ending Moscow's self-imposed ban on supplying the surface-to-air missiles to the Islamic republic.

The move comes before any sanctions have been lifted on Iran, with difficult technical talks potentially resuming next week following the April 2 deal with six world powers aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear drive.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted the missile deliveries were not covered by UN sanctions, and that the progress in the nuclear talks meant there was no longer any need for Russia to maintain the ban.

He said the missile system was "exclusively defensive" and did not pose a threat to Iran's foes.

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.

Washington said US Secretary of State John Kerry had raised his concerns directly with Lavrov in an early morning phone call.

"We don't believe it's constructive at this time for Russia to move forward with it," said State Department acting spokeswoman Marie Harf.

"We think given Iran's destabilising actions in the region, in places like Yemen or Syria or Lebanon, that this isn't the time to be selling these kinds of system to them," Harf told reporters.

She added, however, that discussions between nuclear experts could resume next week aimed at resolving the technical details of the April 2 agreement.

- Israeli outrage -

Israel -- which strongly opposes the emerging nuclear accord -- 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.

But Iranian Defence Minister Hossein Dehqan hailed the Russian move as a step towards "lasting security" in the region.

Moscow had blocked deliveries 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.

The framework nuclear 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.

World powers must resolve a series of contentious issues by a June 30 deadline for a final 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 has plunged the accord into doubt suggesting that "nothing is binding". President Hassan Rouhani has demanded that sanctions be immediately lifted when any deal is signed.

Global powers Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US have said sanctions will only be gradually eased and want a mechanism to ensure they can be swiftly reimposed if Iran breaks its word.

Neither Israel nor the United States have ruled out air strikes if Tehran pursues any development of a nuclear bomb.

But Moscow and Tehran have remained on good terms, with Russia agreeing to build new nuclear reactors for Iran and both sides supporting President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.


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