Russia Lifts Ban On S-300 Missile System Delivery To Iran

ol

Russia has lifted a ban on supplying Iran with a sophisticated air defense missile system, the Kremlin has said. BBC have more:

Delivery of the S-300s was cancelled in 2010 after the UN imposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.

But the Russian president gave the go-ahead after Tehran struck an interim deal with world powers to curb nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

Despite the sanctions, Russia and Iran have remained close allies.

The contract to deliver the system was heavily criticised by Israel and the US, who feared it could be used to protect Iranian nuclear sites.

When it was cancelled, Iran filed a lawsuit seeking billions of dollars in damages. Moscow said it had no choice but to annul the deal when the UN imposed sanctions, outlawing the sale of advanced weapons.