Iranian Defense Minister In Moscow 'To Talk S-300 Missile Deal'

[Purveyor]

Source: Ria Novosti

MOSCOW, February 17 (RIA Novosti) - Iran's defense minister is likely to discuss the delivery of Russian S-300 air defense systems to the Islamic Republic during a meeting with his Russian counterpart on Tuesday, a business daily said.

Russia's Kommersant said Moscow had signed an S-300 contract with Tehran, but would not rush to implement it due to a seeming thaw in Russia's relations with the new U.S. administration.

Iranian media have repeatedly said, citing senior security officials, that Russia has started delivering elements of the advanced version of the S-300 missile with a range of over 150 kilometers (over 100 miles).

The reports have alarmed the U.S. and Israel, both of which have refused to rule out the possibility of military action against Tehran, accusing it of a failure to obey international nuclear non-proliferation demands.

However, Russia has dismissed the reports. "We do not supply any offensive weapons to Iran, and accusing Russia and Iran of cooperation that undermines regional security is unjust," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said earlier.

Read more: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090217/120178299.html

[Prometheus Bound]

1. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov sounds like a clever chap.

However, Russia has dismissed the reports. "We do not supply any offensive weapons to Iran, and accusing Russia and Iran of cooperation that undermines regional security is unjust," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said earlier.

With a range of 100 miles, intended for shooting down attacking planes, this can reasonable be called a defensive weapon, not an offensive one, so he could be telling the truth while still supplying the S-300s. He could just as reasonable argue that delivering the S-300s would support regional security rather than undermine it since in sufficient numbers, they may force Israel to shelve its attack plans.

[Pavulon]

2. Did not syria much good...

they have the same systems and had their reactor blown up.

[Prometheus Bound]

3. Syria did not have S-300s at the time.

[Pavulon]

4. Janes said they did.

will try to link to the article. Janes is difficult to link to as most content is paid.

Here is a wiki article with two supporting links. They had it and still got bombed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SA-10A_Grumble

[Prometheus Bound]

5. Than why was Olmert in Russia 4 months ago asking Russia not to sell S300s to Syria?

Olmert fails to get Russian guarantees on arms sales to Iran
From The Jewish Chronicle
Yaakov Katz
October 8, 2008

Nearing the end of his term in office, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made a lightning trip to Moscow this week in an effort to persuade the Kremlin not to sell advanced missile systems to Iran and Syria.

http://www.thejc.com/articles/olmert-fails-get-russian-guarantees-arms-sales-iran

Last update - 09:09 05/10/2008
Olmert to head to Russia for talks on missiles sale to Iran
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and News Agencies

The source noted that Olmert intends to emphasize that the missile sale would "upset the military-strategic balance in the Middle East," and to warn Moscow of the danger of the missile system being transfered to Iranian military ally Syria. That would bring the Russian-made missiles into the range of Israel Air Force aircraft flying within Israeli airspace, including over the Negev.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1026306.html

Oct 9, 2008 19:26 | Updated Oct 10, 2008 0:19
Russia hints it won't sell S-300 to Iran
Senior diplomatic officials in Jerusalem expressed satisfaction Thursday night at indications that Russia has decided not to sell its S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran and Syria.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1222017498290

[Pavulon]

6. Who knows

will read the article tomorrow. could be a different version, but janes says they have the weapon.

[Flanker]

7. Syria most likely has the S-300P

What they want is the S-300PMU-2 which is like comparing the F-16 Block 5 with a block 60.

Israel is pissing their pants for a reason. When they get the S-400 then game over.

[Pavulon]

8. Then we sell them what negates the s400

we spend trillions on developing that technology. Some is overt like the f-22. Some is just telemetry and guidance related.

There is no game. Syria is a 3rd world shithole as is Iran. They have zero capability to wage never mind win a war with a first world military from anywhere.

Janes take on the russians that entered georgia is striking.