After Russian FM says S-300 to protect Iran, Russian Deputy FM says not supplying soon.

After Russian FM says S-300 to protect Iran, Russian Deputy FM says not supplying soon. (IMRA).

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s live radio interview with Sputnik, Ekho Moskvy and Govorit Moskva, Moscow, April 22, 2015

THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION official site 792-22-04-2015 http://www.mid.ru/bdomp/Brp_4.nsf/arh/0BCA9A90832725FC43257E3000210820?OpenDocument ...

Question:

Please explain something for me. The S-300 missile systems, the delivery of which we have decided to resume to Iran because this is not prohibited by sanctions, and the global BMD system are both air defence systems. However, Russia claims that the S-300 is a defence system that won’t complicate the situation in the region, but that the BMD system, which is a defence system, is complicating the global situation. It sounds like two different systems of logic. Are they both defence systems, or is only one of them a defence system?

Sergey Lavrov:

No, the logic is the same in both cases. First, the S-300 cannot be used for protection against nuclear weapons. The BMD system is designed for protection against strategic weapons, offensive nuclear weapons.

The S-300 is only good for protection against non-strategic missiles, against air strikes. BMD is quite another matter; it concerns the capabilities of strategic nuclear deterrence forces. This is why we are closely monitoring what the Americans are doing. We have clearly explained the political aspects of our position; on the practical side, we are taking the necessary measures to prevent the BMD system from disrupting strategic balance and parity.

Question: 

Will the potential deliveries of the S-300 – as far as I know, the delivery schedule has not been coordinated yet – exacerbate the situation and change the balance of forces in the region?

Sergey Lavrov: 

What do you mean by “exacerbate”? That those who want to deliver a strike at Iran will have to think at least twice before doing it?

Question: 

And will also supply drones to Ukraine? I’m referring to Israel.

Sergey Lavrov:

I don’t know anything about Israel’s plans to supply drones to Ukraine.

Question: Is this speculation?

Sergey Lavrov: There have long been speculations on this issue, but no evidence.

As for the S-300, President Obama’s initial reaction was quite unusual. He said he was surprised the ban held this long, since 2009, that we could have delivered these weapons earlier. He then said that we suspended the delivery at the US’ request, but he still didn’t think that the ban would hold for five years. But yesterday he said a completely different thing. He said they object to the talks on the deal. So much for whom to trust and how to deal with our American partners, who keep zigzagging and changing their minds.

We are in the right, and we haven’t violated anything. In the past, we did it (suspended the delivery) to encourage Iran to take a more constructive stand at the talks, and it worked – we have reached an important stage at the talks, we have coordinated the political framework for a settlement, which is now being translated into practical agreements. The developments in Yemen and the rest of the region point to huge risks. We don’t want Iran to become another target for the illegitimate use of force.

#2. Ryabkov says Iran won't get S-300 in the near future

23 April 2015 - 4:32pm. http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/69990.html

The delivery of S-300 air defense systems to Iran is not happen in the near future, Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said.

"I do not think that it is a matter for near future. It is far more important that a political and legal decision has been taken to open up such an opportunity," TASS cited him as saying.

Hmmmm.....In consideration of the post below, i would say delivery is depending on the delivery of the new S-400 system to the Russian Army.

Related: Why has the Iran-Russia S-300 system delivery agreement not been updated?

Regarding this fact that Vladislav Menshikov, the CEO of S-300 air defense systems manufacturer Almaz-Antei, said in August 2013 that Russia has dismantled and disposed the S-300 air defense missile systems originally intended for delivery to Iran and this fact that Russia doesn't produce S-300 any more, updating the old agreement is a confusing issue and might imply delivering more advanced S-400 missile systems to Iran.

However, leaving the old agreement unchanged may mean that Russia wants to deliver the ready S-300 systems which is currently used by its army to Iran.