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Russia sends air defense system to Iran
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Associated Press, THE JERUSALEM POST Nov. 24, 2006
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Russia has begun delivery of Tor-M1 air defense missile systems to
Iran, a Defense Ministry official said Friday, confirming that Moscow
would proceed with arms deals with Tehran in spite of Western
criticism.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not
authorized to discuss the issue, declined to specify when the
deliveries had been made and how many systems had been delivered.
Ministry officials have previously said Moscow would supply 29 of the
sophisticated missile systems to Iran under a US$700 million (=E2=82=AC565
million) contract signed in December, according to Russian media
reports.
The United States called on all countries last spring to stop all arms
exports to Iran, as well as ending all nuclear cooperation with it to
put pressure on Tehran to halt uranium enrichment activities. Israel,
too, has severely criticized arms deals with Iran.
Tehran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but the
United States and its allies suspect Iran is trying to develop weapons.
The UN Security Council, where Russia is a veto-wielding permanent
member, is currently stalemated on the severity of sanctions on Iran
for defying its demand to cease uranium enrichment.
The Tor-M1 deal, involving conventional weapons, does not violate any
international agreements.
Russian officials say that the missiles are purely defensive weapons
with a limited range.
According to the Interfax news agency, the Tor-M1 system can identify
up to 48 targets and fire at two targets simultaneously at a height of
up to 6,000 meters (20,000 feet).
Russian media have reported previously that Moscow had conducted talks
on selling even more powerful long-range S-300 air defense missiles,
but Russian officials have denied that.
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