Russia and Iran have signed a contract for Moscow to supply Tehran with S-300 surface-to-air missile systems, Sergei Chemezov, the chief executive of Russian state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec, was quoted by the RIA news agency as saying on Monday.
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Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said in mid-August that “all changes” that have been made to the S-300 system by the Russians over the years will be implemented on the equipment that is going to be delivered to Iran.
Chemezov said Gulf countries had no reason to feel threatened by the deal. “This is defence equipment”.
Under the new contract, Iran will drop its lawsuit after the first stage of the contract is completed, Chemezov was quoted as saying, without specifying what the first stage of the contract entails.
“Negotiations are in progress over contracts for providing air defense systems”.
He added: “Five years ago, even now, up to now…”
Russia’s delivery of the S-300 to Iran, initially agreed between the two parties in 2007, has so far not gone ahead due to the United Nation’s Security Council voting to introduce tougher trade sanctions in 2010 due to Tehran’s refusal to curb its nuclear programme.
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He said Russian missile manufacturer Almaz-Antey, which will be the head performer of the contract, is capable of ensuring production and delivery of S-300s to Iran 18 months after the signing of the contract. “When there is a contract, we will supply the system, including to Iran”, Novikov said in September.
