Posted on 11/24/2006 7:36:05 AM PST by Ooh-Ah
Russia has begun deliveries of the Tor-M1 air defence rocket system to Iran, Russian news agencies quoted military industry sources as saying, in the latest sign of a Russian-US rift over Iran.
"Deliveries of the Tor-M1 have begun. The first systems have already been delivered to Tehran," ITAR-TASS quoted an unnamed, high-ranking source as saying Friday.
The United States has pressed Russia to halt military sales to Iran, which Washington accuses of harbouring secret plans to build a nuclear weapon.
Moscow has consistently defended its weapons trade with Iran. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said the contract for 29 rocket systems, signed in December last year, was legitimate because the Tor-M1 has a purely defensive role.
ITAR-TASS reported that the rockets were to be deployed around Iran's nuclear sites, including the still incomplete, Russian-built atomic power station at Bushehr.
In August, Washington announced sanctions against several companies, including Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport, for supplying technology to Iran that could allegedly be used to develop missile technology and weapons of mass destruction.
Under the sanctions no US company can deal with foreign companies on the sanctions list for two years.
A spokesman for Rosoboronexport contacted by AFP would not confirm or deny the reports about the Tor-M1 delivery, which were also issued by the Interfax news agency.
The Tor-M1 is a low to medium-altitude missile fired from a tracked vehicle against airplanes, helicopters and other airborne targets.
The news came as the UN Security Council continued to consider possible sanctions against Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile activity in response to the Islamic republic's suspect nuclear programme.
The major powers have been debating a draft resolution drawn up by Britain, France and Germany that would impose limited sanctions on Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile sectors for Tehran's failure to comply with an earlier UN resolution on halting enrichment.
China and Russia, both close economic partners with Iran, argue the measures are too extensive, while Washington has pressed for tougher action.
Guess we know who our "friends" are these days. I see us standing alone here pretty soon. The UK and France have folded like a deck of cards. We still have the Aussies. I wonder if Australia is a nice place to live? I don't have faith in our new leaders to not do the same.
its time for America to deliver some too.
WE need $20 oil and quick - we have canada now - dump the strategic reserve oil and put these turkeys not bankruptcy.
Actually what we need is leaders with spines.
All of this is predicted to happen and you can see that on www.joelrosenberg.com. Russia and Iran will attack Israel and be stopped literally by an act of God that will also destroy Radical Islam. Sounds crazy but all of what is happening was predicted by the prophet Ezekiel 2500 years ago. Things will get a lot worse before they get better and as the West is losing its spine to fight, God will have to step in.
Agreed and our fate is tied solely and directly to our support of Israel.
"He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber or sleep."
HEY Check out what Russia up too
Just how good are these missiles?
"I looked into his eyes and could see his soul...he is a good decent man" - President Bush on Russian President Vladmir Putin 2002
Russia's version of free-market economics, I suppose?
God is indifferent to us. We can't rely on his aid just the same as the Jews in the 30s and 40s and countless others could not.
I suppose that's as much of a statement about Bush's soul as Putin's.
And these hypocrites (including some liberal Democrats) get upset because we sell weapons to Israel.
They are very fast, can lock on and shoot down multiple targets and are effective at low and high altitude. They can take down the likes of cruise missiles.
Russia just don't get it! This will eventually, as WWIII get full momentum, bite them in the a@@. How can Russia be so dumb. Guess they never got the message that goose stepping nitwits are dangerous. WWII jacka@@es, remember it??????
What was Bush wearing, rose colored glasses?
We should go ahead and arm Japan and S. Korea. Keep beefing up Israel.
We are back to Peace thru strength.
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