If Russia fulfills all its obligations to supply the S-300 air defense systems to Iran, Tehran will see no reason to sue Moscow over the contract, a member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said on Tuesday.
Mohammad Saleh Jokar was referring to a report by Sputnik on May 20, which quoted Nikolay Volobuev, deputy head of Russia's Rostec corporation, as saying, "This issue is closed; the lawsuit has been withdrawn."
Jokar told ICANA that Iran may still consider suing Moscow for the delay in delivering the S-300 systems.
The $800 million contract was initially signed by the two countries in 2007, but Russians did not keep their end of the bargain for years, citing the sanctions of United Nations Security Council against Iran as an excuse.
In the contentious issue of S-300 between Moscow and Tehran, the latter has been demanding quick delivery of the air defense system.
"Iran has ardently insisted on fulfillment of the S-300 contract and filed a lawsuit to receive a compensation for the delivery delay," Jokar said.
In 2010, Iran filed a lawsuit to the International Court of Arbitration in Geneva against Russia. And if Moscow delivers all shipments of the modernized S-300 system to Iran, the lawsuit will be automatically dropped.
The S-300 air defense systems include high-capability, long-range surface-to-air missiles. The Soviet Union was the first to use it in 1979.
The missile system has been modified and updated over the years. It can be used to target aircraft and engage ballistic missiles.
According to The Diplomat, Russia has also offered to license-produce the third-generation T-90s main battle tank in Iran. Both countries are close to signing a contract for the co-production of an undisclosed number of Sukhoi Su-30 multirole fighter aircraft in Iran.
