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Russia Says Lawsuit Impedes S-300 Delivery

Russia Says Lawsuit Impedes S-300 Delivery
Russia Says Lawsuit Impedes S-300 Delivery

Russia says if Tehran drops its lawsuit over the non-delivery of the S-300 missile defense systems, Moscow will be able to supply them to Iran.

Moscow is waiting for Tehran to withdraw its complaint with an international court before starting to work on providing Iran with the weapons, a high-ranking governmental source told journalists on Monday, Sputnik reported.     

In 2007, Russia and Iran signed an $800-million deal for the delivery of five S-300 batteries.

In 2011, Iran sued Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport in the Geneva Arbitration Court after Moscow suspended the contract, citing a UN Security Council arms embargo against Tehran.

"For this [a decision regarding the delivery of S-300s], a key requirement is the withdrawal of a lawsuit. They have not withdrawn it yet, we are waiting. We cannot [simultaneously] take part in legal proceedings over one contract and implement deliveries on the other," the source said.

In April, Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted the ban on S-300 deliveries. The move came after Iran and major powers, including Russia, reached a framework nuclear agreement to remove all economic sanctions against Tehran in exchange for its pledge to cut back on uranium enrichment and the number of centrifuges in the country for specified durations. Last week, Russia and Iran signed a memorandum on the implementation of the agreement for the supply of the missile systems.

Earlier this month, an Iranian defense source told Sputnik that Tehran expected to receive the Russian S-300 missiles 30-40 days after the signing of the new deal with Moscow.

According to the source, Iran will withdraw its lawsuit against Russia immediately after the signing of a new agreement on S-300.

 

Financialtribune.com