S-300 air defense systems supplied to Iran by Russia

Iran’s defense minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said Wednesday that Russia is to supply the country with new S-300 air defense systems.

The step will likely be considered as a sign of growing cooperation between two nations.

Najjar said “The S-300 air defense system will be delivered to Iran on the basis of a contract signed with Russia in the past.”

No numbers or dates were concretized, the AP reports.

Russia delivered 29 TOR-M1 air defense missile systems to Iran under a US$700 million (EUR540 million) contract signed in December 2005 earlier this year.

The West will likely get concerned with such turn as it was not the only sign that Russia will not approve its sanctions against the Muslim country.

Russia’s AtomStroyExport Corporation started the fuel delivery for the first reactor of Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, Pravda.ru previously reported. Russian specialists are building it in Iran under the control of the IAEA.

Thus, Iran can be quite sure that Bushehr nuclear power plant would be provided with nuclear fuel enough for normal operation of the plant, Russian officials say.