Iran obtains defense system for nuclear sites
By Nasser Karimi
Associated Press
Published January 25, 2007
TEHRAN -- Iranian officials said Wednesday that they have taken delivery
of advanced Russian air defense missile systems--weapons intended,
according to one Russian news agency, to defend Tehran's major nuclear
facilities.
Announcement of the delivery of the Tor-M1 mobile missile launchers came
as Iran launched three days of military maneuvers, its first since the UN
Security Council approved sanctions against Iran on Dec. 23.
"We have had constructive defense transactions with Russia and we
purchased Tor-M1 missiles that were recently delivered to us," the
official Web site of Iranian state television quoted Defense Minister
Mustafa Mohammad Najjar as saying.
Najjar did not say how many missiles were delivered or when they arrived.
Previously, Moscow said it would supply 29 of the mobile surface-to-air
missile systems to Iran under a $700 million contract signed in December
2005, Russian media have reported.
According to Russia's ITAR-Tass news agency, the weapons were expected to
be used to protect major government and military installations such as the
nuclear facilities at Isfahan, Bushehr, Tehran and in eastern Iran.
ITAR-Tass on Tuesday quoted Sergei Chemezov, the head of the country's
state-run weapons exporter as saying that the Tor-M1 missiles had been
delivered before the end of December 2006. It is not clear whether the
sale was completed before the Security Council vote.
The United States last year called for a halt to international arms
exports to Iran and for an end to nuclear cooperation with Iran to
pressure it to stop uranium enrichment. Israel has also criticized arms
deals with Iran.
Iran denies U.S. accusations that it is using its nuclear power program as
a cover to develop nuclear weapons.
On Monday, Tehran conducted missile tests and said it had barred 38 United
Nations nuclear inspectors from entering the country.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0701250087jan25,1,4280480.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
Pic of Tor missiles --
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/06/xin_031202060859929308333.jpg
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