Iran Nuclear Watch: Russian Missiles Delivered to Iran: Ivanov

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Reuters: Russian missiles delivered to Iran: Ivanov

Russia has delivered new anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran and will consider further requests by Tehran for defensive weapons, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Tuesday.

“We have supplied the modern short-range anti-aircraft systems TOR-M1 in accordance with our contracts,” Ivanov told reporters. “Iran is not under sanctions and if it wants to buy defensive … equipment for its armed forces then why not?”

A defense ministry source later told Reuters deliveries of hardware under the $1 billion deal, which has been criticised by the West, have not yet been completed.

And remember Russia was very reluctant to sanction Iran in the first place.

This is a sabre rattling pronouncement since TOR-M1 missile systems had already been delivered and apparently continuing. Was this a response to Secretary of Defense Gates announcement that an additional carrier strike group was on its way to the Persian Gulf?

You betcha…….

Check out the video on the TOR-M1

Russia and China are NOT our friends with regards to Iran. Isn’t it time the United States deal with them as adversaries?

Washington and Israel have criticised the contract to supply the TOR-M1 missiles to Iran, saying Tehran could use them against its neighbors.

Late last year Russia reluctantly joined U.N. sanctions against Iran, which introduced restrictions on Iran’s trade in sensitive nuclear materials and technology, aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

But Moscow says the sanctions do not apply to the missiles.

The Russian military insists that the missile systems will protect Iran from air attacks, but do not pose a threat to neighboring countries.

Last year Russia dropped the idea of selling longer-range S300 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran.

However, Washington imposed sanctions against four Russian arms firms for selling weapons to Iran and Syria.

More than sanctions are needed……..

Tick Tock Tick Tock

The “NUCLEAR POINT OF NO RETURN” is imminent.

Stay tuned……..