Russia to Fulfill Commitment over Delivery of S-300 System to Iran: Commander
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior Iranian military commander voiced confidence that Russia would fulfill its undertakings regarding the delivery of the S-300 air defense missile system to Iran.
“The Iranian defense ministry is pursuing the delivery of the (S-300) systems, for which we have contracts, and the committed state (Russia) will meet its undertakings,” Commander of Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili told reporters Friday.
He pointed to the efforts underway to upgrade the country’s air defense missile systems, and said, “Numerous measures have been taken in this regard and we have reliance upon homegrown products.”
Esmaili further noted that the country's integrated air defense network "is in good condition" thanks to the efforts made to upgrade the air defense systems.
The remarks by Esmaili came a day after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country will soon deliver the S-300 air defense system to Iran.
"The supplies of Russia’s S-300 air defense system to Iran is due soon," he told the media following talks with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif on Thursday.
Zarif is in Moscow to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting and the High-level Conference "Security and Stability in the SCO Region".
According to TASS news agency, Lavrov said that the theme of S-300 systems was not discussed during the meeting.
"We merely stated that preparations for the delivery are underway and the deal will be effected soon," he said.
Back in April, Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to lift the ban on the S-300 missile system delivery to Iran. It had been introduced by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev in 2010.
Under a contract signed in 2007, Russia was required to provide Iran with at least five S-300 defense system batteries.
