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No wonder Russia’s been dragging its feet over the deal to sell S-300 missiles to Iran. In June, we blogged about Russia’s continued delay delivering S-300 missiles to the rogue state in a deal that supposedly wasn’t affected by the U.N. Security Council’s sanctions against Iran. According to Russia’s foreign minister, however, the deal does fall under sanctions.

An excerpt from Press TV:

“‘If Russia refuses to deliver S-300 missile systems to Iran, the issue can be pursued legally,’ Head of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi told Fars News Agency on Sunday.

“Referring to Boroujerdi’s statement, Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that ‘I’ve heard nothing about it. I only know that the supplies fall under the ban introduced by the UN Security Council, and in this event force majeure comes into effect.’

“Under an 800-million-dollar contract signed in 2005, Russia was required to provide Iran with at least five S-300 systems. However, the contract’s implementation was delayed until Resolution 1929 was adopted by the UN Security Council (UNSC) against Iran.”

Iran seeks to protect itself against pre-emptive strikes from Israel and claims to need the S-300 systems for defense. Was Russia really worried about sanctions after it sealed the deal with Iran? Is that the reason Russia was hesitant to agree to tougher sanctions in the first place? After initially denying the deal and calling Iran unstable, Russia eventually admitted to selling Iran the systems. Earlier this year, the U.N. Security Council deputy secretary Vladimir Nazarov confirmed there was a signed contract between the countries.

Some sources report that Russia’s deal to deliver S-300 missiles to Iran is not affected by the U.N. Security Council’s sanctions against Iran, while others say it is. Regardless, the former Soviet Union has yet to deliver the missiles to the rogue state. Despite U.N. Security Council sanctions, Iran hasn’t skipped a beat in the hubris department. An excerpt:

“‘The S-300 is absolutely necessary for Iran,’ Mustafa Alani, a regional security expert from the Dubai-based Gulf Research Center, said in a telephone interview today. ‘They are very disappointed as they have a huge gap in their air defense and this would solve a big part of it.’
…
“The S-300′s latest model is able to hit targets from a range of 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) to 200 kilometers and at a height of 100 meters to 27 kilometers, according to its manufacturer, OAO Air Defense Concern Almaz-Antei.”

After denying the deal and calling Iran unstable, Russia eventually admitted to selling Iran S-300s. In February, U.N. Security Council deputy secretary Vladimir Nazarov said, “There is a signed contract…which we must implement, but deliveries have not started yet. This deal is not restricted by any international sanctions, because the talk is about deliveries of an exclusively defensive weapon.” (Source)

Last month, sources reported that Iran had begun working on a new advanced mid-range air missile defense system called Mersad. The announcement came shortly after Iran urged Russia not to cave to international pressure over its deal to deliver S-300 missiles to the rogue state.

This week, Iran announced that it has developed a short-range missile defense system to defeat Cruise missiles. (Source)

“A new short range anti-Cruise defense system with the capability to fire 4,000 rounds of bullets per minute has been produced at the defense ministry and soon will be inaugurated,” defense minister Ahmad Vahidi said. “We are at the design and production phase of various defense systems in the short, medium and long-range categories.”

The Defense Intelligence Agency recently reported that Iran may have the capability to hit the U.S. with an intercontinental ballistic missile, with North Korea’s help, as early as 2015. In 2020, the U.S. will have a Europe-based second shot capability to defend against Iran’s ICBM. Consequently, there will be a five-year protection gap against Iran’s ICBM. Our current plan for homeland defense are interceptors in California and Alaska

After Russia denied a deal to sell S-300 missiles to Iran, a rogue state sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment, the country finally admitted to the deal with the “unstable” Iran.

In February, Security Council deputy secretary Vladimir Nazarov said, “There is a signed contract…which we must implement, but deliveries have not started yet. This deal is not restricted by any international sanctions, because the talk is about deliveries of an exclusively defensive weapon.”

Iran accused Russia of stalling on delivery. Two months later, Russia still has not delivered the S-300 missiles.

The Washington Post reports that Iran is urging Russia not to “bow to Western pressure” over the sale. Iran claims it needs the weapons as protection against attacks from Israel and the U.S. if either country decides to pre-emptively strike its nuclear facilities.

Critics believe Russia has used Iran as leverage by refusing to agree to tougher sanctions against the country in part to force the U.S. to compromise on its missile defense strategy.

“Iran expects Russia not to be influenced and pressured by other countries,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said. “We hope this issue will reach a conclusion in the framework of our agreements.”

(Image: Getty)

In response to U.S. plans to deploy missile defense shields to Poland and the Czech Republic, Russia threatened to send short-range Iskander missiles to Kaliningrad, near the Polish border. After President Barack Obama took office, Russia rescinded the threat.

It was speculated that Russia changed its mind because the Obama administration seemed to be taking an appeasement approach in exchange for the former Soviet Union’s help with Iran.

That help never panned out. In fact, Russia made a deal to sell S-300 missiles to Iran, and has refused to issue tougher sanctions against the country, even as Iran announced its intend to develop high-grade nuclear fuel and enrich more uranium.

No doubt Russia hoped the Obama administration would put missile deployment to Eastern and Central Europe on hold. Those hopes were dashed. Not only is the U.S. deploying shields to Poland and Romania, it plans to beef up missile defense in the Persian Gulf.

According to Reuters, it looks like the Iskander threat is back in play.

Transdniestria, a region of Moldova, said it’s open to hosting Russian missiles “As far as the Iskander…is concerned,” said leader Igor Smirnov, “we have long said we are ready.”

Moldava’s acting president rejected that claim, however, calling Transdniestria “an artificial creation” with no authority to speak for relations between Moldova and Russia.

But what does Russia say?

In 2008, Russia denied a deal to sell S-300 missiles to Iran, a rogue state sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment. A Russian arms-export monopoly denied knowledge of such a sale. Although a Russian foreign ministry spokesman said there was no S-300 missile sale and referred to Iran as “unstable” in 2008, Russia has refused to join us in calling for tougher sanctions against Iran and said, presumably with a straight face, that there’s no “military element” to Iran’s uranium enrichment.

Fast forward to 2010, and Russia has since come clean and confessed to the S-300 deal with the “unstable” Iran. Earlier this month, Iran accused Russia of stalling on delivering the weapons. According to Reuters, Russia’s Security Council denied this accusation.

Security Council deputy secretary Vladimir Nazarov said, “There is a signed contract…which we must implement, but deliveries have not started yet. This deal is not restricted by any international sanctions, because the talk is about deliveries of an exclusively defensive weapon.”

Is it possible Russia has no intention of delivering the weapons, and the arms sale agreement is Russia’s leverage against the U.S.?

The deputy secretary warned the U.S. and Israel not to preemptively strike Iran, “a neighbor of Iran.” Is Russia concerned about stopping Iran’s nuclear program or helping Iran maintain the program for its own interests? Russia is selling so-called defensive weapons to an unstable country that has Israel in its sights, and refuses to agree on stronger sanctions. After denying the deal to sell S-300s, Russia has gone on record and admitted the deal.

From where we’re sitting, Russia seems more interested in aiding Iran than containing Iran.

(Image source: Getty Images)

 
Last week we blogged that Iran was losing patience over Russia dragging its feet about the S-300 missile sales deal. The rogue state is holding Russia to their arms agreement, but the former Soviet Union has yet to deliver. Iran threatened legal action if Russia continues to hold out. (Source)

Iran’s Brigadier General Mohammad Hassan Mansourian said, “The Russians, surely under the pressure of the Zionist lobby and America, refuse to fulfill their commitments. And because this is an official agreement it can be pursued through international legal bodies.”

The country denied the agreement, but the truth came out. Why is Russia hedging now? The U.S and Israel believe Iran will use the S-300s to protect its nuclear facilities, which Iran denies, and Russia has refused to issue tougher sanctions against Iran. Reuters reports that Russia also is reluctant to help Iran build a nuclear power plant, blaming the hold-up on technical issues.

Russia may or may not be using Iran and other Islamic countries as a “pawn” to manipulate the U.S., but who knows where the truth lies?

Last week, we blogged that Iran asked Russia to honor their agreement to sell Iran S-300 missiles. The former Soviet Union previously denied such an agreement, but Iran’s Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi (pictured) said, “we have a contract with Russia and I do not think it would be suitable for Russia to be seen as an uncertain partner in the world.”

Israel believes Iran would use the missiles to protect its nuclear facilities from air strikes.

UPI reports that the rogue state is growing angrier over Russia’s delay, threatening to make its own advanced missile system. “Iran is not a country to come to a halt in the face of non-cooperation of other countries,” said Alaeddin Bouroujerdi, a senior Iranian lawmaker.

Is Russia delaying because of pressure from the West? We’re skeptical. The reasons for the delay probably are more cynical than that. Russia doesn’t seem too concerned about what other countries think. Russia has not only refused to issue tougher sanctions against Iran, but it’s selling weapons to Iran. With this sort of boldness, why would Russia care what any country thinks? That country’s leaders managed to convince the leader of the free world to cancel plans to deploy missile shields to Poland and the Czech Republic, a move that would have protected the region from Iran.

Russia’s calling the shots. The reason for the delay probably has little to do with “pressure from the West.”

In March, sources reported that Russia had signed a contract to sell S-300 missiles to rogue state Iran, which the former Soviet Union promptly denied. According to the AP, the Foreign Ministry claimed Russia “has sold to Iran only defensive weapons that cannot destabilize the situation in the region” and added that Russia doesn’t sell S-300 missiles to the Middle East or Southwest Asia.

In August, The AP reported that Russia promised to reconsider selling S-300 missiles to Iran. The U.S. and Israel had reason to believe the so-called defense missiles would be used to defend Iran’s nuclear facilities. Shimon Peres, president of Israel, said that “President Medvedev gave a promise he will reconsider the sales of S-300s because it affects the delicate balance which exists in the Middle East.”

This week, Iran is urging Russia to honor the agreement to sell the country S-300 missiles and to not cave to detractors like the U.S. (Source) “In connection with the purchase of S-300, ” Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said, “we have a contract with Russia and I do not think it would be suitable for Russia to be seen as an uncertain partner in the world.”

Our country seeks cooperation from Russia to issue tougher sanctions against the rogue state, but Russia so far has refused. With talk of a deal between the two, Russia’s cooperation seems even more unlikely.

Israel claims Iran would use the S-300s to defend against nuclear facility air strikes. Israel has hinted at the possibility of pre-emptive strikes against Iran.

(Photo source: Getty Images)

 
In March, sources reported that Russia had signed a contract to sell S-300 missiles to rogue state Iran, which the former Soviet Union promptly denied. According to the AP, the Foreign Ministry claimed Russia “has sold to Iran only defensive weapons that cannot destabilize the situation in the region” and added that Russia doesn’t sell S-300 missiles to the Middle East or Southwest Asia.

A lot can happen in five months.

The AP recently reported that Russia promised to reconsider selling S-300 missiles to Iran. The U.S. and Israel have reason to believe these “defense” missiles could help Iran protect its nuclear facilities. Shimon Peres, president of Israel, said that “President Medvedev gave a promise he will reconsider the sales of S-300s because it affects the delicate balance which exists in the Middle East.”

It’s no secret that Iran has Israel in its sights. How will our ally respond to the threat? Russia has so far refused to issue tougher sanctions against Iran and, ironically, is prepared to supply them with “defense” weapons.

Peres said, “President Medvedev told me that Russia will not support an Iranian nuclear bomb under all circumstances. But he also mentioned that the Russian appreciation of what’s taking place in Iran is different from the American one.”

Quite an understatement.