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RUSSIA yesterday unblocked long-planned supplies of S-300 missile systems to Iran, a move likely to irk other world powers involved in talks aimed at limiting Tehran’s nuclear programme. President Vladimir Putin cancelled a decree under which he had banned delivery of the missile system to the Islamic Republic in September 2009. Moscow’s decision comes after Iran reached a framework agreement with a group of global powers earlier this month setting out conditions under which its nuclear programme will be restricted in exchange for a lifting of international sanctions.
While some foreign diplomats believe Russia’s move could reduce the incentive for Tehran to be accommodating in further talks aimed at reaching a final deal on the nuclear programme, Moscow defended its decision.
Sergei Lavrov, foreign minister, said Moscow’s embargo on the missile deliveries had been voluntary to begin with as UN sanctions adopted in June 2010 did not require such a ban.
“It was done in good faith for the sake of stimulating progress in the negotiations,” he said.
“We believe that at this stage the need for this kind of embargo, and for a separate voluntary Russian embargo has completely disappeared.”
Western diplomats have long expressed surprise at the extent to which Russia co-operated with the west in the Iran talks. This month’s framework agreement was reached despite a continuing stand-off over the war in Ukraine, over which the US and the EU have imposed tough sanctions on Russia.
Foreign policy analysts see Iran as one of a number of international security issues on which Russia could exert global influence by deliberately counteracting western interests. However, Moscow observers say lifting the missile embargo addresses a key problem in Russia’s bilateral relations with Iran. — AP.
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