Iraqi Ambassador: Baghdad has not yet negotiated purchase of S-400 missile systems from Russia
Iraq’s ambassador to Russia, Haidar Mansour Hadi, denied reports of ongoing negotiations in Moscow concerning S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, RIA Novosti reports.
“There is no delegation in Moscow to acquire the S-400 at the present time. When the government of Iraq decides to purchase the S-400, it will, of course, be announced, and there will be discussions held between the two countries,” Hadi said.
At the same time, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said that Russia demonstrate its new aviation and transport equipment for Iraq. He stated this at the plenary session of the Russian-Iraqi Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, TASS reported. “The main interest is your plans to expand the port infrastructure, railways, and use of air transport,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Earlier, the Saudi newspaper Okaz, citing sources, said that Baghdad would conclude a deal with Moscow on the purchase of the S-400 system and would not purchase U.S. missile systems for about $2 billion. The newspaper Shafaq News and news platform Al Sura also reported on the forthcoming contract between Iraq and Russia for the S-400 missile system. According to the news platform, Iraq plans to “keep up with neighboring countries that have modern air defense systems, and plans to ensure the maximum possible protection of its territory and air bases from air strikes.”
On January 21, Hadi, in an interview with RBC news agency, stated that Iraq “has no desire to purchase the S-400 system.” According to the ambassador, a delegation from the Iraqi government, headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will arrive in Moscow on February 26, but only to discuss economic cooperation.
The S-400 Triumf missile system can counter air and space attacks at both long and medium ranges. It has been in use since 2007. It can destroy aerial targets to a distance up to 400 km, and tactical ballistic targets to a distance of 60 km. The S-400’s radar can detect air targets at a range of up to 600 km. The anti-aircraft guided missiles can hit aerial targets at altitudes up to 27 km, and ballistic targets up to 25 km.