Azerbaijan, Baku, October 10 / Trend, T. Jafarov /
The agreement on the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, signed by Iran and Russia, doesn't contain any contradiction to international obligations and laws, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said Sunday in an interview with Trend.
"This issue has been clearly included in the text of the agreement signed by the two countries. On the other hand, Russia was to supply S-300 to Iran within two years prior to adoption of the UN Security Council's resolution No. 1929. And this resolution doesn't mention about anti-aircraft missile systems. We believe that the fulfillment of obligations by the region's countries will lead to the achievement of common goals and interests, creating a strong interaction in the sphere of security and strengthening of mutual confidence. We will never want such actions to be a black spot in the Iranian people's historical memory", Vahidi said.
The contract to supply Iran with the missile system, one of most effective in existence, was signed at the end of 2007. Russia was to supply five divisions' worth of S-300PMU-1 for $800 million.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed an order on 22 September on compliance measures with UN sanctions against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program, which the West believes is aimed at developing nuclear weapons. Iran denies the allegations.
Medvedev's order banned export to Iran of armored vehicles, military aircraft, helicopters and ships.
According to Vahidi, Iranian Defense Ministry's skilful specialists are working over the production of long-range anti-missile defense system.
"As it has been proved earlier, Iranian experts in the defense sphere have potential for self-sustaining operation ", the minister noted.
The S-300 system is designed for defending high-value objects such as military bases and command and control centers. It can engage all kinds of aerial targets including ballistic and cruise missiles, up to a range of 150 kilometers and an altitude of 27,000 meters.