Iran Talking About New Weapons Purchases In Russia

Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani arrived Monday to negotiate new weapons deals believed to be worth about $300 million a year. Russian officials and Shamkhani also are expected to discuss planned U.S. strikes on Afghanistan. A Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson said Shamkhani, whose visit was aimed at increasing military cooperation, would meet Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov on Tuesday. He was also due to tour a number of military-industrial plants in Moscow and St. Petersburg during his five-day visit. Ivanov said recently he and Shamkhani plan to sign a framework bilateral agreement on military cooperation, which would be "open and non-secret". As reported, Iran is especially interested in acquiring long-range S-300 air-defense missiles to protect the Bushehr nuclear power plant and other strategic facilities, medium-range Buk M1 and Tor M1 air-defense missiles and Su-27 fighter jets, the St. Petersburg Times reported.