S-300 SAMs to Iran? Russia says not so fast - no decision made yet.
No decision has been taken yet on the delivery of S-300 air defense systems to Iran, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Friday.
Russia signed a contract on delivering at least five S-300 systems to Iran in December 2005, but the contract's implementation has so far been delayed.
On June 9, the UN Security Council approved a fourth round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, including tougher financial controls and an expanded arms embargo.
Later, the United States and the EU imposed extra sanctions against the Islamic republic.
The sale of S-300 air defense systems is believed to fall under the sanctions, though Russia said the delivery would not be affected since the weapons are not included in the UN Register of Conventional Arms.
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The Russians are apparently opening a "competition" for the helicopter carriers that were originally a straight purchase from France.
Russia has announced an international tender for the supply of two helicopter-carrying warships, Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Friday.
Serdyukov said Russia plans to pick a supplier by the end of the year. Russia has been in talks with France on a deal for Mistral class vessels, but officials have said it is also considering other potential suppliers.
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With a lease through 2044 (!), Russia's extended presence in their 'near abroad' - in this case, Armenia - is assured.
Russia extended its lease on Friday on a military base in the former Soviet republic of Armenia until 2044, strengthening its presence in the South Caucasus energy transit region.
The deal, signed in Yerevan during a visit by President Dmitry Medvedev, extends a 1995 lease on the Gyumri base on Armenia's closed western border with NATO-member Turkey, home to several thousand Russian soldiers who patrol the frontier.
Armenian officials have praised the deal as a guarantee of Russian backing in the event of new conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan over the rebel mountain region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The extension is in line with Russian policy of maintaining its influence in the South Caucasus, a volatile region criss-crossed by pipelines skirting Armenia and carrying Central Asian and Caspian oil and gas to Europe.
The original lease ran for 25 years.
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By: Brant
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