Russia will not pressure Iran, when push comes to shove.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/21083.html
Quote:
MOSCOW - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov announced on Tuesday that Russia has delivered anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran that were a part of a defense deal inked by the two countries in 2005. Ivanov also said that Russia would consider further orders from the Middle Eastern country.
"We have supplied the modern short-range anti-aircraft systems TOR-M1 in accordance with our contracts," Ivanov confirmed. "Iran is not under sanctions and if it wants to buy defensive ... equipment for its armed forces then why not?"
Iran had inked an agreement in 2005 to buy 29 TOR-M1 missile systems from Russia in a deal believed to be worth $700 million. The TOR-M1 missile systems are capable or hitting airborne targets like cruise missiles or helicopters.
The United States had asked Russia to nix the defense deal in the light of the defiant position adopted by Iran over nuclear weapons. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, but the US feels that it is getting ready to make nuclear weapons. The standoff has been tense and hence Russia's sale will not be viewed favorably.
State Department spokesman Tom Casey had harsh words for this deal, "We don't think that it's an appropriate signal to be sending to the government of Tehran at this time, particularly when they are under U.N. sanctions for trying to develop a nuclear weapon, and when they continue to be in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions," he said.
|