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Mon, Oct 11, 2010 | ISNA

Iranian Minister of Defense, Brig.-Gen. Ahmad Vahidi

Iran Says S-300 Missile System Should Have Been Delivered 2 Years Ago

Iranian Minister of Defense Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said S-300 anti-aircraft missile system should have been delivered to Iran 2 years before the UN Security Council resolution 1929 was passed in June 2010.

According an ISNA news agency report, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a decree which officially prohibits the sale and shipment of S-300 air defense missile systems, cannon systems, armored vehicles, warplanes, helicopters and warships to Iran in line with UN Security Council resolution No.1929 imposed against Iran on June 9 (2010) following Iran’s refusal to halt uranium enrichment. Russia canceled plans to supply the missiles in September which triggered an outcry of criticism of Russia in Iranian press.

“S-300 missile is not in contradiction with any international commitments of the two sides (Iran and Russia) and the issue is clearly emphasized in the deal, on the other hand the date of delivery of the missile system was two years before the adoption of the UN Security Council recent resolution against Iran,” Vahidi told Azerbaijan’s Trend News Agency.

“The resolution does not involve air defense systems and the issue is reiterated by many political figures of the US and Russia,” Vahidi noted.

He went on to say that, “we believe that implementation of commitments by regional countries can improve confidence and create a firm security unity to help achievement of shared interests and goals.”

“We are not willing that such measures (Russia’s refusal to deliver the missile system) be recorded in the memory of Iranian nation at all, off course as we have already said potent Iranian experts have put long-range air defense system on their agenda.”

Vahidi also accused the West of “following anti-Islamism through Islamophobia, Shiitephobia and Iranophobia.”

The S-300 is an advanced mobile missile system which could oppose a threat to U.S. and Israeli fighter planes and cruise missiles if a joint military operation would be carried out against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Iran made the deal with the Russian Federation to buy the S-300 missile systems in 2007, however Russia has delayed the missiles’ delivery several times.

Iran’s Defense Minister Brig.-Gen. Ahmad Vahidi is on a two-day official visit to Azerbaijan and was invited by the Defense Minister of Azerbaijan, Safar Abiyev. He is also to meet with President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.