Lavrov: Russia would consider selling tanks, armored vehicles and combat aircraft to Iran
Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has said that Russia would consider selling tanks, armored personnel carriers and combat aircraft to Iran.
“Bans against Iran for certain weapons such as tanks, armored personnel carriers and combat aircraft were removed and instead changed to five-year licensing regimes. This means that Iran can now consider buying these types of weapons. We will definitely consider their proposals if they contact us in this regard. I will however repeat that the S-300 systems are not restricted, like many types of small arms and light weapons. We will consider all possibilities. With regard to the licensing procedure, which requires the approval of the Security Council, the appropriate procedures will be implemented if and when Iran decides to make these purchases," the minister said, as quoted by RIA Novosti.
In addition, Lavrov said that the delivery of the S-300 systems to Iran will be completed in 2016. He also said that the number of anti-aircraft missile systems purchased by Iran is “absolutely adequate and in accordance with Iran’s legitimate security interests to protect its airspace”.
The head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), Alexander Fomin, had previously said that Russia has no plans to deliver S-300 systems to Syria. He also said that Russia does not consider the delivery of additional weapons to Iran to be prohibited.
When questioned as to whether there was a possibility of supplying such weapons to Syria, Fomin said that “as of today, no”. He was then asked whether Russia will deliver other arms, in addition to the S-300 systems, to Iran. “We have contracts with Iran which only concern items which are not prohibited by the United Nations,” he answered.
Fomin stated that among the authorized arms, there are small arms and other types of weapons. These include non-lethal radar systems and equipment for electronic warfare.
He added that the plan to supply S-300 systems to Iran was ahead of schedule.
On the 11th of April, Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Rogozin, said that Russia had started deliveries of the S-300 systems to Iran. These deliveries would continue until the end of the year.