Russia might consider sales of military aircraft to Iran
Updated: Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Photographer: US Defense Department Photo
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Washington, 19 August (WashingtonTV)—An official in Russia’s state arms exporter said on Wednesday that Moscow would be willing to look at requests from Iran for military aviation hardware if it showed an interest.
According to AFP, Alexander Mikheyev, the deputy director of Rosoboronexport, was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying: “If Iran shows it is interested in military transport planes or combat aircraft, we will examine this request.”
Reuters also carried the comments.
The remarks come as Israeli President Shimon Peres said today that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had pledged to review Moscow’s planned delivery of sophisticated air defense missile systems to Tehran.
Peres, who held talks with the Russian leader on Tuesday, also said that Medvedev vowed to do “everything to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”
Israel and the United States have pressed Russia to halt delivery of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system to Iran, which would greatly increase Tehran’s ability to fend off potential air strikes on its nuclear sites.
Russia says that the arms it sells Iran are only for defensive purposes and that they would not change the region’s strategic balance.
Sources: Agence France-Presse, Reuters
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