Iranian Defense Minister: Iran will not purchase S-400 air defense systems from Russia
The Minister of Defense of Iran, Hossein Dehghan, stated that Iran isn’t going to buy Russian S-400 air defense systems, although Moscow offered such weapons to Tehran, Tasnim reported. According to Dehghan, Russia offered S-400s and other air defense systems to Iran but Tehran declined.
The Minister reported that Iran has voluntarily withdrawn a lawsuit against Russia over undelivered S-300 systems.
“However, Iran retains the right to legally reopen the case if the S-300 air defense systems are not supplied in full,” the Minister of Defense added. Dehghan noted that Iran has received the bulk of the S-300s and the remaining systems should be supplied within one month.
Last week, Russian long-range bombers began taking off from the Hamedan airbase in Iran to carry out airstrikes in Syria. The Russian Air Force still has a strong presence at the Khmeimim airbase in Syria.