MOSCOW, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Russia would fulfill a contract to supply its sophisticated Tor-M1 air defense systems to Iran, the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Friday.

    Ivanov, who is also vice prime minister, made the announcement after talks with the visiting German Defense Minister Franz Josef Yung in St. Petersburg, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

    "Russia has signed a contract with Iran for the supply of Tor-M1 close-range air defense systems to Iran," he said. "The contract will undoubtedly be fulfilled if no major factors interfere."

    Up to 30 Tor-M1 units, will be used to defend key state and military facilities, foremost, nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Bushehr, Tehran and in the east of the country.

    The contract, worth 1.4 billion U.S. dollars, is the biggest arms deal Iran and Russia have ever made.

    Ivanov ruled out the possibility of terrorists using the Tor-M1air defense systems, saying, "By its technical parameters, the system cannot be used for terrorist activities."

    "Russia is lagging far behind other countries in the volume of weapons supply to the Near and Middle East," he added.

    The Tor-M1 unit is an all-weather air defense system intended for fulfilling air defense tasks at the battalion unit level. It ensures effective protection from cruise missiles, guided bombs, warplanes, helicopters, and pilotless and remotely controlled attack aircraft. Enditem