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24 June 2010

Russia Cancels Air Defense Deal With Iran

It appears that Iran will not be obtaining the next generation S-300 air defense system from Russia, which is good news for any future Israeli or US air attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Russian officials have assured their U.S. counterparts this month that they would not complete the sale of a powerful air defense system known as the S-300 to Iran.

Speaking Tuesday to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, William Burns, undersecretary of state for political affairs, said the Russians had made assurances they would not complete the sale.

"Russia, for example, has confirmed to us that it will not deliver the S-300 system in accordance with the U.N. sanctions," Mr. Burns said.

The new U.N. Security Council resolution 1923, which sanctions Iran for its nuclear program, includes a loophole that would allow the Russians to sell the air defense system.

In the last three weeks, Russian military leaders and diplomats have asserted both that they can complete the sale of the S-300, but that they will not complete the sale for now, as it would violate the spirit of the new U.N. sanctions.

By: Shelldrake

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