Russian Refusal to Sell Warplanes Denounced

A lawmaker denounced a recent decision by Russia's defense officials to refrain from supplying Iran with Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jets, dismissing their claim that the sale of the jet to Iran is banned by international law.

"No international law prohibits Iran from purchasing the fighter aircraft," Ardeshir Nourian said in an interview with ICANA on Tuesday.

"Such weapons are meant to defend our territorial integrity and any country is entitled to develop its defense capabilities."

Russia was one of the six states that negotiated last year's nuclear deal with Iran. It took effect in January to curb Tehran's nuclear program in return for relief from international sanctions.

Nourian said Moscow is expected to help remove the sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

"The remarks of Russian officials are against expectations arising from the current close relations and cooperation between the two sides and they should agree to provide this weapon to Iran," he said.

Iran's Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan said in August that Tehran has shown interest in buying Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets and Moscow's reply "has not been negative so far."

The United States has said it would use its veto power in the UN Security Council to block the possible sales of the fighter jets to Iran, which need the UNSC approval under its resolution to endorse the nuclear deal.