Israel Presses Russia on Arms Sales to Iran
Israeli Prime-Minister Ehud Olmert and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow (Photo by Itar-Tass)
The sale of S-300 surface to air missiles by Russia to Iran has not been confirmed either by Moscow or Teheran. However, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert urged Russia against selling weapons to Iran in his meetings with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday and Tuesday. The best version of the S-300 system, known by NATO as the SA-20, can track 100 targets and fire on planes 120 kilometers away. Hours before Olmert's arrival, Rosoboronexport, the Russian arms export agency, said that it had no information on Russian plans to deliver the SAM system to either Iran or Syria, reported Russia's Interfax news agency.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said: "Iran's defensive might is based on our indigenous capabilities, and whatever action that helps with expanding and strengthening our military and defensive might, we'll look into that. We have good defense cooperation with the Russians. One example would be anti-aircraft systems. We have had good cooperation and we continue to cooperate with them."
On Sunday, Olmert said his first face-to-face talks with President Medvedev would focus on the "security, military, diplomatic and international agenda between us and Russia." On Tuesday, during the meeting, Medvedev said that the relationships between the two countries are "very good and stable," and are positive for the "Middle-Eastern regulations." He added "Russia will continue playing a constructive and active role in this process. This is in Russia's interests." Olmert responded by saying that "Our relationships with Russia are very important. Russia is a world power. Decisions made by Russia, as a world power, in regional and global issues are very important for all of us, including Israel."
The high-profile Israeli-Russian meetings came days after the two countries introduced visa-free travel for their citizens.
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