Russia to honor Iran arms deal despite US objection
Russia will fully comply with a deal with Iran to supply it with the Tor-M1 air defense systems despite US objections, a senior Defense Ministry official said."The Russian side, despite objections from the United States, will honor its contract with Iran for the supply of the upgraded version of the Tor system," the official was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.
The official said delivery of the 30 Tor-M1 systems will begin in January and be completed by the end of next year. The deal is believed to be worth 1.4 billion US dollars and is the biggest ever arms deal between Russia and Iran.
The Tor-M1 system is capable of identifying up to 48 targets and tracing and firing at two targets simultaneously at a height of up to 6,100 meters. US officials have called the deal a source of concern and said the United States strongly opposed the missile sale.
Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov earlier confirmed and defended the deal saying Russia did not violate any international obligations in signing the deal because Iran is subject to any international sanction.
"That was an absolutely legal deal, like it or not," he said.
Source Here
posted by _H_ at 12:44 am
2 Comments:
The deal likely falls under the Iranian-Soviet Treaty of Guarantee and Neutrality signed on October 1st, 1927. From Dilip Hiro's The Essential Middle East: A Comprehensive Guide:
"On 1 October 1927 the Soviet Union signed a Treaty of Guarantee and Neutrality with Iran. The signatories agreed to refrain from aggression against each other and to remain neutral in the event of aggression by a third country. 'Each of the contracting parties agrees to take no part... in political alliances or agreements directed against the safety of the territory or territorial waters of the contracting party or against the integrity, independence or sovereignty,' stated Article 3. The same applied to economic boycotts or blockades organised by third parties."
It seems the Russians are legally bound to deliver.
Furthermore, this explodes the myth that even though Saddam Hussein was known to be a monster, the U.S. had to support him because Iran was a tentacle of the Soviets (not that that would be an acceptable reason). It was never such. It was merely a signatory to a treaty of guarantee and neutrality.
Thanks for the research Djeb , much appreciated
It seems the russians are just standing by their word then , if only others did that ...... lol
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