Iran: Moscow must abide by S-300 deal

Teheran warns it is capable of producing similar defense systems.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, AP
S-300 (photo credit: Associated Press)
S-300
(photo credit: Associated Press)
Amid reports that S-300 missiles were banned by the Security Council sanctions imposed on Teheran last week, Iranian national security official Esmail Kowsari said Saturday that Russia must "abide by agreements" and deliver the missiles.
On Friday, the Kremlin announced the latest round of sanctions prevented Moscow from delivering the powerful air-defense missile system to Iran - a deal which has been on hiatus for three years.
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The Mehr news agency quoted Kowsari as saying that Russia was "bound by an agreement to provide Iran with the advanced defense system."
He reportedly warned that if Moscow failed to deliver, Teheran would be "well capable of producing missile defense systems that are very much similar to Russia's S-300 apparatus."
Following the Kremlin's announcement, White House spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters in Washington that the US appreciates "Russia's restraint in the transfer of the S-300 missile system."
The UN resolution does not specifically prohibit Russia from supplying the S-300, Crowley said. "However, for the first time, the resolution calls for states to exercise vigilance and restraint in the sale or transfer of all other arms and related material."
On Sunday, Iran announced its parliament was working on a "top priority bill" which would limit the country's ties with the IAEA. According to IRNA, the move came as a response to the new sanctions imposed on the Islamic republic.