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Iran gets Russian air defence missiles

Vladimir Radyuhin

No ban on defensive weapons

MOSCOW: Russia is supplying air defence systems to Iran notwithstanding international sanctions imposed against Tehran last month. Moscow has delivered "at least half" the number Tor-M1 missile systems Iran has bought from Russia, a Russian Defence Ministry source told the Itar-Tass news agency.

Effective deterrent

Under a $1.4-billion contract Russia is to supply Iran 29 Tor-M1 short-range air-defence complexes that will be deployed around major administrative and military centres, including Tehran, nuclear sites in Isfahan, and the Russian-built nuclear power station in Bushehr.

Tor-M1 is effective against cruise missiles, guided air bombs, and aircraft, including stealth planes.

The deal was part of a larger defence package involving modernisation of the Iranian Air Force's 59 Russian-made Sukhoi and MIG fighter jets and the sale of patrol boats.

Russia voted for a U.N. Security Council resolution on December 23 calling for limited sanctions against Iran, but the Defence Ministry official said the sanctions did not ban supplies of "defensive weapons" to Tehran.

"There are no U.N. bans on the sale to Iran of defensive weapons, such as Tor-M1 missiles," the official said.

He said a group of Iranian military personnel had completed combat training in the operation of Tor-M1 systems in Russia in December.

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