Russian S-300 missile supply to Iran not listed in UN SC resolution
The United Nations Security Council resolution on Iran’s
nuclear program deal does not cover Russia’s supplies of S-300 surface-to-air
missiles to Iran, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi told a press conference
on Wednesday.
"Purchasing S-300 missiles is out of jurisdiction of
the recently adopted UN Security Council resolution," Aragchi said adding
that the resolution lists seven restrictions, and none of them mentions
Russia’s S-300 air defense systems, reports Tass.
The diplomat also stressed that the agreement reached
between Iran and P5+1 group of international mediators (Russia, US, UK, China,
France and Germany) on July 14 in Vienna "paves a way for economic
cooperation with several countries that had no ties with the Islamic Republic
[of Iran] because of sanctions." Aragchi reminded that Tehran maintains
"cordial, positive and constructive relations" with Russia and China.
On Monday, the UN Security Council has unanimously adopted
the resolution in support of the agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. According
to the document, all international sanctions will be lifted from Iran in 10
years if Tehran fulfills all conditions agreed with P5+1 group of international
mediators (five permanent members of UN Security Council and Germany) in
Vienna.
The resolution also envisages easing sanctions against Iran
after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) submits a report confirming
Tehran’s compliance with the terms of the deal. The UN Security Council also
reinforced the mechanism of returning all restrictions in case Iran violates
the terms of the agreement.
Under the 2007 contract, Moscow was to deliver to Tehran
five divisions of the missile systems of medium range worth over $800 million.
The Iranian side paid $166.8 million in advance. However, until mid-2010 the
systems were not supplied to Iran.
In September 2010, then-President Dmitry Medvedev signed a
decree on measures on implementing the UN Security Council’s resolution 1929
that in particular banned the S-300 supplies to Iran. The contract was canceled
and the advance payment was sent back to the Islamic Republic.
On April 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a
decree lifting the freeze on S-300 supplies to Iran.
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