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The Russian President approved sanctions against Iran
Russia has put an end to the saga that has lasted since 2007 around the supply of weapons to one of the most odious political regimes in the world. President Dmitry Medvedev yesterday signed a decree on measures to implement the imposing sanctions against Iran, UN Security Council Resolution No. 1929 of June 9, 2010 . “The decree, in particular, prohibits the transit movement through the territory of Russia (including by air), the export from the territory of Russia to Iran, as well as the transfer to Iran outside Russia using ships and aircraft under the state flag of Russia of any battle tanks, armored combat vehicles vehicles, large caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles or missile systems as defined for the purposes of the UN Register of Conventional Arms, S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems or materiel associated with all of the above, including spare parts" , - reported the Kremlin press service.The presidential decree, together with annexes, occupies 21 pages. Along with the ban on arms supplies, the president, “until further notice,” prohibits receiving investments from Iran, Iranian citizens and legal entities, in projects related to the production and extraction of uranium and nuclear technologies. In addition, Mr. Medvedev banned the entry into Russia of 13 Iranian citizens -- scientists and officials who were or are engaged in Iran's "proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities or nuclear weapons development."
Chief of the General Staff Nikolai Makarov began preparing public opinion for such a turn of events yesterday morning. He stated that Russia does not supply the S-300 to Iran, and directly linked this to UN Security Council sanctions. On August 20 in Yerevan, the head of the Ministry of Defense Anatoly Serdyukov spoke about the same thing. Although Russian officials initially denied that the S-300 was subject to these sanctions.
The UN Security Council adopted a new package of sanctions against Iran related to the threat to the world from the Islamic Republic's nuclear program in early June. The explanatory note to Security Council Resolution No. 1929 stated a ban on the sale or transfer to Iran of six types of heavy weapons - tanks, armored combat vehicles, large-caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft and ships. In addition, the list of weapons prohibited for sale includes attack helicopters and missiles.
At first, representatives of the Russian authorities noted that the resolution did not interfere with the implementation of the S-300 contract, since air defense systems were not mentioned in the UN list. However, a week later the Russian side officially announced that the restrictions also apply to the S-300. The Russian Foreign Ministry promised that the list of weapons subject to the new sanctions resolution on Iran will be given in a decree of the Russian President. And this decree has finally been signed.
The deal, which involved five divisions of the S-300PMU-1 air defense system, promised the Russian defense industry about $800 million. The Iranians really wanted to get the S-300. The contract was concluded in 2007. In December 2008, the Iranian official news agency IRNA reported: Moscow has begun supplying Tehran with components for the S-300 air defense system. A little later, the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia officially stated that the information about the supply of air defense systems to Iran does not correspond to reality.
The S-300PMU-1 air defense missile system is a long-range anti-aircraft missile system - one of the most effective means of defense of important state and military installations, military bases, troop groups, missile launching positions from attacks by aerospace attack weapons, all types of missiles, including ballistic ones, with the exception of intercontinental ones. The system is capable of simultaneously tracking up to six targets at a range of 120 km and firing 12 missiles at them. In terms of combat characteristics, the S-300 is significantly superior to the American Patriot, which is deployed in many countries, including Israel. But the desire of the Iranian authorities came into conflict with the political capabilities of Russia.
Several years ago, Syria intended to purchase Buk-M air defense systems and Strelets anti-aircraft missile systems with Igla missiles from Russia. But Tel Aviv’s request was taken into account, and all this equipment was not delivered. The reason was then cited as the financial difficulties of the Syrians. It's a similar story with the S-300. The United States and Israel said that, in their opinion, the deal upsets the balance of power in the region, and that with the help of the Russian S-300, the Iranians will protect their nuclear facilities from a possible airstrike.
However, Russia has not always refused military contracts in this region. The Israelis and Americans failed to convince Moscow not to supply Bastion anti-ship systems with Yakhont missiles to Damascus. While in Washington at the end of last week, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said that the 2007 contract for the supply of modern Yakhont anti-ship missile systems to Syria would be fulfilled. “The United States, together with Israel, asks that we not supply Yakhont to Syria. But we do not see the fears expressed by them that these weapons will fall into the hands of terrorists,” said the Minister of Defense and explained: “Russia quite precisely stipulates the conditions for the supply and operation of weapons, including issuing an end-user certificate accordingly.” And the Syrian side assumes these obligations.
Iran, having received a refusal to supply air defense systems, is attempting to create similar long-range systems on its own in order to replace the S-300. This was stated by Brigadier General Ahmad Mikani, commander of Iran's largest air defense base, Khatam ol-Anbiya. According to General Mikani, Iranian air defenses are now capable of not only detecting and tracking cruise missiles, but also shooting them down. The general did not say when or where such tests were carried out. Mikani stressed that Tehran does not intend to wait any longer for the supply of air defense systems from abroad. Iran also claims that it fully meets its needs for ground-based radars.
There have been reports in the Iranian media that the Islamic republic has already received four Russian-made S-300 systems, bypassing Russia - two from Belarus and two more from an unnamed state.