Russia Could Offer Iran Antey-2500 Instead of S-300

0
1647

 

 The ongoing negotiations are currently moving in the right direction, Iranian First Deputy Foreign Minister Morteza Sarmadi told Sputnik.

“We touched upon the issue of [introducing] amendments to the contract, the new prices to be set, and discussed the mechanism of the lawsuit withdrawal,” the diplomat said.

When the lawsuit is out of the way, Moscow and Tehran will sign a deal for the delivery of a better member of the large S-300 family, the Antey-2500, the Russian Kommersant newspaper reported. Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport declined to comment.

S-300 PMU-1 air defense missile system

In 2007, Russia and Iran signed an $800 million deal for the delivery of the S-300PMU-1 surface-to-air missile systems. It was terminated in 2010 after the United Nations imposed an arms embargo on Iran. Russia returned the advanced payment of $167 million and disposed of the anti-ballistic missile systems intended for Iran, according to the newspaper.

Following the move, the Islamic Republic filed a $4 billion lawsuit against Rosoboronexport at the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration in Geneva.

In February 2015, Russia offered to deliver Antey-2500 systems instead of the S-300PMU-1s since the former are not covered by the embargo.After the team of international negotiators and Tehran reached a framework agreement on Iran’s nuclear program Russian President Vladimir Putin overturned Medvedev’s decision lifting the ban on the S-300 deliveries.

A source familiar with the situation said in mid-June that Russia and Iran were in talks on resuming the implementation of the S-300 delivery contract.

Iran insists on the delivery before dropping the lawsuit, a stance Moscow considers unacceptable, Kommersant said.

S-300VM Antei-2500 air defense system

Moreover, unlike the Antey-2500, the S-300PMU-1 systems are no longer in production and Moscow made Tehran aware of that. “No one will resume production for a single albeit important client,” a top manager at Russian arms manufacturer Almaz-Antey said.

Iranian authorities have reportedly given a prior consent for the delivery of the Antey-2500s.If the deal comes through, the Islamic Republic will become the third country to receive these systems. In 2013, Rosoboronexport sold two S-300VM batteries to Venezuela. They have already been delivered to the buyer.

In 2014, Russia signed a contract with Egypt for the delivery of two batteries scheduled for 2016.

Antey-2500 anti aircraft S-300VM system

ATTENTION READERS

We See The World From All Sides and Want YOU To Be Fully Informed
In fact, intentional disinformation is a disgraceful scourge in media today. So to assuage any possible errant incorrect information posted herein, we strongly encourage you to seek corroboration from other non-VT sources before forming an educated opinion.

About VT - Policies & Disclosures - Comment Policy
Due to the nature of uncensored content posted by VT's fully independent international writers, VT cannot guarantee absolute validity. All content is owned by the author exclusively. Expressed opinions are NOT necessarily the views of VT, other authors, affiliates, advertisers, sponsors, partners, or technicians. Some content may be satirical in nature. All images are the full responsibility of the article author and NOT VT.
Previous articleTRUTH JIHAD: Je suis Dieudonné! French comedian wins free speech award
Next article‘We’ll Teach Americans How to Fight!’ – Azov Regiment