MOSCOW, June 11 (Xinhua) -- A Kremlin official said on Friday the S-300 air defense systems that Moscow had planned to deliver to Iran fell under new sanctions imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council.
"S-300s fall under these sanctions," said the source was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying. "Therefore, these type of weapons cannot be supplied to Iran."
Russian officials have been making conflicting remarks concerning the long-protracted deal.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Friday Russia will adhere "strictly and unequivocally" to the UN Security Council resolution over the delivery of S-300 air defense systems to Iran.
Konstantin Kosachyov, head of the international relations committee of Russia's State Duma, the lower parliament chamber, said Russia might still fulfill the contract on Thursday, but took a U-turn and personally opposed the delivery of the missiles a day later.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Tashkent on Thursday that supplies of defensive armaments to Iran will not be affected by the new round of sanctions against it by UN Security Council.
"As for cooperation in defense-related technologies, the resolution imposes restrictions on the sales of offensive armaments to Iran, while defensive armaments stand away from its realm," he said.
Iran struck a deal with Russia to buy S-300 missile systems in 2007, but Russia has delayed the delivery of the missiles. The United States and Israel oppose the sale of the missiles to Iran.
