Tweet
Russia Backs away from Iran Missile Deal
11:07 - 12.06.10
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said Moscow will freeze the
sale of surface-to-air missiles to Iran, according to French
officials. Mr Putin made the comments in talks with French President
Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris, the officials said.
In an apparent change of direction by Moscow, Russia's prime minister
said President Dmitry Medvedev will decree which weapons cannot be
sold to Iran.
Sergey Lavrov earlier said the missiles were not subject to fresh UN
sanctions, according to BBC News.
Russia agreed to supply Iran with S-300 systems several years ago but
has not delivered them.
Mr Lavrov said on Thursday that a fourth round of sanctions imposed by
the UN Security Council this week would not affect Russia's contract
to supply Iran with the missiles.
But on Friday he said: "According to our practice, the UN Security
Council resolution is implemented through decrees issued by the
Russian president. A decree to this effect will be prepared."
Correspondents say a flurry of statements by officials on Friday
suggest Moscow is changing tack on the missile deal.
The White House acknowledged on Thursday that the latest sanctions did
not explicitly ban the S-300 sale to Iran, but it welcomed Russia's
"restraint" in not delivering
Tert.am
From: A. Papazian
11:07 - 12.06.10
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said Moscow will freeze the
sale of surface-to-air missiles to Iran, according to French
officials. Mr Putin made the comments in talks with French President
Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris, the officials said.
In an apparent change of direction by Moscow, Russia's prime minister
said President Dmitry Medvedev will decree which weapons cannot be
sold to Iran.
Sergey Lavrov earlier said the missiles were not subject to fresh UN
sanctions, according to BBC News.
Russia agreed to supply Iran with S-300 systems several years ago but
has not delivered them.
Mr Lavrov said on Thursday that a fourth round of sanctions imposed by
the UN Security Council this week would not affect Russia's contract
to supply Iran with the missiles.
But on Friday he said: "According to our practice, the UN Security
Council resolution is implemented through decrees issued by the
Russian president. A decree to this effect will be prepared."
Correspondents say a flurry of statements by officials on Friday
suggest Moscow is changing tack on the missile deal.
The White House acknowledged on Thursday that the latest sanctions did
not explicitly ban the S-300 sale to Iran, but it welcomed Russia's
"restraint" in not delivering
Tert.am
From: A. Papazian