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Russia Antagonizes U.S., Sells Arms to Iran
MOSCOW, Sept 1 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Russia hopes to go ahead with arms sales to Iran - breaking an accord with the United States - but insisted Saturday that the weapons concerned would have exclusively defensive capabilities, news agencies reported.
"In any case, our discussions [with Iran] will concern only defensive weapons such as ground-to-air defense systems and conventional weapons," Vice Premier Ilia Klebanov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Klebanov's statements came two days before the scheduled arrival in Moscow of Iran's defense minister, Rear Admiral Ali Chamkhani.
Chamkhani arrives Monday for a four-day visit, during which Moscow also hopes to sign an agreement with Tehran on techno-military cooperation, according to a defense ministry source quoted by Interfax.
Chamkhani is expected to discuss the weapons deals, as well as additional Russian help for Iran's nuclear programs.
Russia said last November that it intended to renew arms sales to Iran, breaking an agreement signed with the U.S. in 1995, which banned the delivery of Russian arms to Iran.
Washington fears Moscow will sell sophisticated weaponry to what it considers a so-called "rogue nation" and help develop Iran's nuclear industry.
The United States is also said to be pressuring Russia against the sale of naval missiles to Iran, news agencies reported.
Russian industry sources said Washington does not want Russian-made sea-to-sea missiles deployed on Iranian naval vessels on patrol in the Persian Gulf. The sources said such a sale has alarmed Washington and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The sources said Iran and Russia are discussing the sale of the Yakhont sea-to-sea missiles. The Yakhont anti-ship cruise missile has a range of up to 300 kilometers and is designed to combat naval surface-ship groupings, single ships under heavy fire and electronic counteraction.
Russia has already sold several sea-to-sea missiles to Middle East clients, and in 1997 delivered the last of three Kilo-class diesel submarines to Iran.
The sources said Moscow expects to sell up to $2 billion in weapons to Teheran, as Washington has sought to stop the sale of advanced air defense systems.
Iran is said to be Russia's best arms client in the Middle East, and an element in what officials termed as "record arms exports" during this year. Moscow has also sold weapons and systems to Algeria, Greece and Libya. Negotiations are currently being held with Egypt and Syria.
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