DUSHANBE, December 30, 2015, Asia-Plus — Russia has begun fulfilling a contract with Iran on the delivery of S-300 air defense systems, according to
Sputnik News
.
Iran has paid for the delivery of S-300 air defense systems, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin was quoted as saying on December 30.
In 2007, Moscow and Tehran signed an $800-million deal for the delivery of five S-300 missile systems to Iran. In 2010, Russia suspended the contract, citing a UN Security Council resolution that placed an armed embargo on Tehran until it proved a peaceful nature of its nuclear project.
“This contract is being completed and is being paid for. The delivery is underway and there will be other contracts after this one,” Rogozin said during an interview on Russia’s
Rossiya-24
television channel.
In April, Moscow repealed the S-300 delivery ban, after the P5+1 group, comprising Russia, the United States, France, China, the United Kingdom and Germany, reached a framework nuclear agreement to remove sanctions against Iran in exchange for guarantees of the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities.
Earlier in December, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced a closure of investigation into Iran’s nuclear program, after it had found no indications of military-related nuclear developments in the country.
The S-300 (NATO reporting name SA-10 Grumble) is a series of initially Soviet and later Russian long range surface-to-air missile systems produced by NPO Almaz, based on the initial S-300P version. The S-300 system was developed to defend against aircraft and cruise missiles for the Soviet Air Defense Forces. Subsequent variations were developed to intercept ballistic missiles.
