Russia Sez Scuzzy Muzzy Iranians are Liars - Denies Plans to Sell New Missile Defense System

December 28, 2007

Russia Denies Plans to Sell New Missile Defense System to Iran

Friday, December 28, 2007

MOSCOW - The federal agency overseeing Russia's military exports on Friday

denied reports that the country is planning to deliver a powerful new

anti-aircraft missile system to Iran.

Iran's defense minister had said earlier this week that Russia was preparing

to equip Iran with the S-300 missile system, which would dramatically

increase the country's ability to repel an attack.

But Russia's Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service denied the claim

in a brief statement.

"The question of deliveries of S-300 systems to Iran, which has now arisen

in the mass media, is not currently taking place, is not being considered

and is not being discussed at this time with the Iranian side," said the

agency, known by its Russian initials, FSVTS.

The system is capable of shooting down aircraft, cruise missiles and

ballistic missile warheads at ranges of over 90 miles and at altitudes of

about 90,000 feet. Russian military officials boast that its capabilities

outstrip the U.S. Patriot missile system.

The S-300 is an improvement over the Tor-M1 air defense missile system.

Russia delivered 29 Tor-M1s to Iran this year under a $700 million contract

signed in December 2005. Iranian media reports have claimed the improved

missile systems could inflict significant damage on U.S. or Israeli forces,

were they to attack Iran.

The United States had said in the past that it would not rule out military

action as a way to halt Iran's nuclear enrichment, claiming it was using the

nuclear program as cover for weapons development. But earlier this month,

Washington reversed course, concluding in an intelligence assessment that

Iran stopped direct work on creating nuclear arms in 2003 and that the

program remained frozen through at least the middle of this year.

Russia has provided Iran with submarines and military planes in recent

decades.

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