Russia to sell defence systems to Iran

[Ulhas Joglekar <joglekarulhas@xxxxxxxx>]

The Times of India
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Russia to sell defence systems to Iran
http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1577127.cms

Saturday, May 27, 2006

AGENCIES

MOSCOW: Russia will fulfill a contract to supply its sophisticated Tor-M1
air defence systems to Iran, the Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said
Friday.

According to the Itar-Tass news agency Ivanov, who is also vice prime
minister, made the announcement after talks with the visiting German Defence
Minister Franz Josef Yung in St. Petersburg.

"Russia has signed a contract with Iran for the supply of Tor-M1 close-range
air defence systems," he said. "The contract will undoubtedly be fulfilled
if no major factors interfere."

Up to 30 Tor-M1 units will be used to defend key military and nuclear
facilities in Isfahan, Bushehr and Tehran and in the east of the country.

The contract, worth $1.4 billion, is the biggest arms deal Iran and Russia
have ever made.

Ivanov ruled out the possibility of terrorists using the Tor-M1 air defence
systems, saying, "By its technical parameters, the system cannot be used for
terrorist activities."

"Russia is lagging far behind other countries in the volume of weapons
supply to the Middle East," he added.

The Tor-M1 unit is an all-weather air defence system intended for fulfilling
air defence tasks at the battalion unit level.

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