Posted on 12/02/2005 11:00:19 AM PST by NormsRevenge
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Iran has signed a deal to buy Russian tactical surface-to-air missile systems, a Russian newspaper reported on Friday.
Iran is to buy 29 TOR-M1 systems, designed to bring down aircraft and guided missiles at low altitudes, said the Vedomosti daily, citing Russian defense sources close the deal.
The deal is the biggest sale of Russian defense hardware to Iran for about 5 years, the newspaper said. It did not say how much the order was worth.
Defense industry officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Tehran is under intense international pressure after failing to convince the United States and others its nuclear scientists are working on fuel for power stations rather than bombs.
Russia is helping Iran build a nuclear power station at Bushehr.
I really think Putin needs to be taken out. We need a real pro-western leadership in that God-forsaken hole. Why didn't anyone listen when Patton wanted to re-arm the Germans and march them into the USSR? The Russians just keep selling $hit to our enemies (good thing most of it is crap).
Its time Bush dumped ideology and made a deal with Russians on the exact contours along which Persia of old can be carved up.... This is not as unworldly as it sounds and could have several beneficial effects. One, Russia gets its much desired warm water port in theArabian Sea. Two, Plenty of oil and gas reserves become open to world markets. Three, Iraqi shia militia and Hezbolla are suddenly quietened down along with a big source in funding and arms. Four, China gets checkmated in the process. Five, a US-Russia presence bang on Saudi's near borders.....yummy!
"Its time Bush dumped ideology and made a deal with Russians"
Bribe Putin like Saddam was doing? Oil contracts were accorded to many Russian political parties as revealed in the Al Mada list. Iran surely is doing they same. Why not? It works there.
Attack IRAN NOW!!!
enough of this waiting for the "students,disidents etc" Don't you (the west) see trouble when it's spitting in your face???????
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-12-02T141130Z_01_MCC251058_RTRUKOC_0_UK-RUSSIA-IRAN-ARMS.xml
Iran and Russia sign $1 bln defence deal - reports
Fri Dec 2, 2005 2:11 PM GMT
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By Meg Clothier
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia plans to sell more than $1 billion worth of tactical surface-to-air missiles and other defence hardware to Iran, media reported on Friday.
Moscow is already at odds with the West over its nuclear ties with Tehran but has sought to use its warm relations with Iran to be recognised as a key mediator between the West and the Islamic Republic.
The Vedomosti business daily cited military sources as saying Iran would buy 29 TOR-M1 systems designed to bring down aircraft and guided missiles at low altitudes.
The paper, calling it the biggest sale of Russian defence hardware to Iran for about five years, said Moscow and Tehran had already signed the contract.
Interfax news agency separately quoted a source as saying the deal, which would also include modernising Iran's air force and supplying some patrol boats, was worth more than $1 billion.
The move, likely to irritate Israel and the United States, could strain Moscow's efforts to broker a deal between Iran and European negotiators aimed at breaking a deadlock over Tehran's nuclear programme.
Israel in particular is nervous about Iran's military potential after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in October that Israel should be "wiped off the map" -- comments condemned by Russia at the time.
Russia's Defence Ministry declined to comment on the deal. Officials at state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Russia's state defence supplier, were not available for comment.
Western countries suspect Iran of seeking nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian atomic programme, which Tehran denies, saying it wants only to generate electricity.
Russia has helped Iran build its first nuclear reactor and is preparing to launch it next year. Some in the West fear that Iran could use Russian know-how to make sensitive weapons.
The defence industry source told Interfax there were no international restrictions on selling weapons to Iran.
"Moreover, practically all the weapons that Russia is delivering to Iran in the coming years are defensive rather than offensive in character," the source said.
One Western diplomat who closely watches Russia-Iran dealings said news of the deal was alarming and would further increase tensions.
"Russia has long positioned itself as a major peace broker between Iran and the West -- and all of a sudden they are throwing this bombshell. It just does not make any sense," said the diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous.
Its because the still see the US and EU as an enemy and want Iran to have nukes to muck up the problem even more. Russia ,China, and the Iranian alliance is the single biggest threat to nuclear war we face today.
I don't understand your comment. I recently translated the bill of sale from the original scrumbecki, which it was written in, into english.
On the issue of reliability, Putin offered this reassurance, "...Just yesterday we tested these missiles against a jetliner taking off from LAX airport. Despite the fact that the liner managed to evade the missiles only by performing violent 9 G maneuvers at mock 3 speed, at 65,000 feet, a few seconds after takeoff, we recorded definite indications that the missile achieved lockon, or at least seemed to fly in the general direction of the aircraft, and we got these really kickbutt pictures of the pilot's face when he saw it cruise nearby-. Well, anyway there is an extended warranty available for only $ 90,000,000 rubles, covering parts only, would you like those in military sparkle finish?"
This is the smoking gun we all have been looking for.
There is no magic button! It all depends how the users employ this system. No aircraft is invulnerable to ANY air defence asset. The SA-15 (GAUNTLET) is a feared system in anybodys hands. The Serbs operated their SA-3s and with a bit of skillful tweaking of frequencies were able to down an F-117 in 1999.
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