The new contract to deliver Russian S-300 missile defense systems to Iran is being finalized, and will be implemented when issues related to a lawsuit regarding the previous contract are resolved, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday.
"The contract is being finalized," Ryabkov told Rossiya-24 television channel, Sputnik reported.
Russia and Iran signed a deal for the delivery of five S-300s back in 2007, but the agreement was halted by Moscow after the UN Security Council issued an arms embargo on Tehran over its nuclear activities.
Ryabkov noted that Iran took this case to an international arbitration court.
"This problem also needs to be dealt with somehow," he said, adding that the new contract will be implemented as soon as all issues are resolved.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted the ban on S-300 deliveries last month, shortly after Iran and the P5+1 (the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany) reached a framework nuclear agreement.
Elsewhere, Ryabkov said Russia considers Iran a reliable partner and is not expecting Tehran to undermine the work on the comprehensive nuclear deal with the major powers.
"We believe that it (failure of talks) is not going to happen," he said.
"Iran is a responsible international partner, it fully respects all concluded agreements," Ryabkov, who leads the Russian delegation at the Iran nuclear talks, stressed.
The diplomat also expressed hope that Iran and the P5+1 would be able to find solutions to the sanctions aspect of the nuclear deal by the June 30 deadline.
"We are noticing certain progress on the issue, and we are hoping that we can find a mutually acceptable solution by the deadline on June 30."
