Russian President Vladimir Putin’s office announced Thursday Russia will begin sending S-300 missile defense systems to Iran.
“The contract is in action,” a Putin aide told Russian news agency TASS. “They’ve begun.”
The S-300 system is a surface-to-air missile platform with a range of up to 93 miles, and is capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, in addition to defending a target from aircraft. The announcement raises significant concerns over both the legality of the sale and whether the system will harden the defenses of Iran’s nuclear program.
When asked on Thursday about the implications of the arms sale, Russian defense expert Boris Zilberman remarked: “For Iran, the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or Iran Deal) has become a far more effective air defense at this juncture. The delivery of the S-300, which Russia has said will be completed by the Iranian New Year (March), is now extra insurance. It will be interesting where Iran decides to deploy them.”
The platform — first deployed by the USSR in 1979 — is a generation old. But it would allow Iran the ability to monitor aircraft and conduct offensives beyond its airspace, such as the harassment of non-hostile aircraft flying over neighboring countries, notes The Hill by Foundation for the Defense of Democracies defense experts Patrick Megahan and Behnam Ben Taleblu.
The $800 million contract between Russia and Iran to purchase the system began in 2007, but went unfulfilled after Putin ordered a ban on the sale, reported TASS. Though Putin has since lifted the Russian ban, there are questions as to whether or not the sale is in conflict with standing United Nation Security Council resolutions.
Russia claims the S-300 does not fall under the considerations of the resolution. Iran tested a missile capable of mounting a nuclear warhead in violation of resolutions in October, with little to no response by the international community.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.