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Posted on 12/02/2005 3:13:48 PM PST by nuconvert
Reports: Russia to Sell Missiles to Iran
By MIKE ECKEL, Associated Press Writer
Fri Dec 2, 2005
Russia has agreed to sell more than $1 billion worth of missiles and other defense systems to Iran, Russian news media reported Friday, a move expected to draw a heated reaction from the United States.
The Interfax and ITAR-Tass news agencies cited unidentified sources in the Russian military-industrial complex as saying that Russian and Iranian officials had signed contracts in November that would send up to 30 Tor-M1 missile systems to Iran over the next two years.
Interfax said the Tor-M1 system could identify up to 48 targets and fire at two targets simultaneously at a height of up to 20,000 feet.
The news agency quoted its source as saying the two countries had reached a deal on modernizing Iran's air force inventory, as well.
The deal was also reported in the Vedomosti newspaper, which cited an unidentified manager at a military-industrial enterprise as saying Russia would provide Iran with 29 Tor missile systems that had originally been manufactured on orders from Greece.
The state arms export agency, Rosoboronexport, said it had no information on the reported deal.
No Iranian officials were immediately available for comment Friday, a weekly holiday in the country. There were no reports in the Iranian media about the deal.
While the conventional weapons deal would not violate international agreements, it was likely to elicit an adverse reaction from the United States.
"I expect that Russia's decision to supply the complexes to Iran will meet a negative reaction from the West, but this criticism will be of a political rather than legal character," Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, was quoted by Vedomosti as saying.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States had not yet validated the news reports.
Russia, a key Iranian ally, has resisted U.S.-led efforts to bring Tehran before the U.N. Security Council over its alleged nuclear weapons program, insisting that the disputes be resolved through the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
Russia is also building a nuclear reactor in the Iranian city of Bushehr.
Israel considers Iran to be its biggest threat, and doesn't believe Tehran's claims that its nuclear program is peaceful. Israeli concerns were heightened recently after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad urged that Israel be "wiped off the map."
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said he was unaware of the reported deal between Russia and Iran, but said it would harm regional security.
"When a country hopes to strengthen the military potential of Iran, they are serving to strengthen the most negative elements in the region," Regev told The Associated Press in Jerusalem.
On Friday, Israel carried out a successful test of its Arrow missile defense system, intercepting and destroying a missile similar to Iran's long-range Shahab-3.
Yikes, sounds like game on.
The longer we wait........................................
Sure, and we'll be glad to deliver them, for free.
Tor-M1 is the SA-15 GAUNTLET.
This as the only reason as to why Russia would sell such missiles to Iran, less the profits achieved in doing so.
So, the Israeli's have a narrow window to hit the Iranian nuke sights, which can be obliterated before these systems are up and effective. Combined with the creation of Sharon's "new" political party, this is another sure sign that the Jews will act against Iran any day now.
I believe that Israel is going to strike them soon.
Will the attacks from the leftists cause the Bush Administration to hesitate too long? That's my fear. It's a shame politicians who must be concerned about what the gullible public thinks makes decisions of national secusrity. Hesitating dealing with Iran will cost millions of innocent lives. And the COMMUNIST Russians are not are allies!
I kept telling you all: NEVER, never, never trust the Russians.
"I believe that Israel is going to strike them soon."
I agree. I hope that Israel wipes the Mullah scum from the face of the Earth. The only unfortunate part about such a scenario is that there will be casualties among Iran's freedom loving (pro-American) masses.
Ideally, an attack will involve the destruction of all known nuke sites and a few tactical/commando type raids to punch the clock on the Mullahs.
I will pray for Israel and for the good people of Iran.
"When a country hopes to strengthen the military potential of Iran, they are serving to strengthen the most negative elements in the region," Regev told The Associated Press in Jerusalem.
Im waiting on the same old red gaurd we have here to come and defend russias position. Always on the wrong side of democracy, this is nothing new.
Tor-M1 is the SA-15 GAUNTLETSomeone who knows their Russian SAMs with a name like SIDENET? I'm not surprised...
This could be interesting.
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