The U.N. sanctions do not ban Russia from delivering sophisticated air defense missiles to Iran as agreed under a 2007 contract, Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani was quoted as saying by ILNA.
Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said the contract for delivery of the powerful S-300 air defense missiles to Iran was concluded before the U.N. Security Council approved new sanctions last month.
"The contract for Russian S-300 missiles was concluded before last U.N. Security Council (resolution). It is an old contract, therefore it has nothing to do with the ... (new) resolution. Moreover, it is a defensive weapon," Larijani told reporters on a visit to Damascus.
Speaking to reporters in Damascus on Thursday, Larijani denied any tension between Iran and Russia but added there were some "fluctuations" in Russia's position toward Iran.
Russia supported a fourth round of U.N. sanctions imposed against Iran's nuclear program, but Russia criticized additional U.S. and EU sanctions against Iran