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.

'Peaceful & Moderate' Iran showcases domestically-developed defense systems.

'Peaceful and Moderate' Iran showcases domestically-developed defense systems.(Taz).

The Iranian Army has introduced several new, domestically-developed defense systems and weapons.
The Army’s Khatam ul-Anbiya Air Defense Base showcased its latest achievements during the Army Day parade in Tehran, Tasnim news agency reported April 18.

The following is the list of the items on show:

· S200 missile, for targeting flying objects and guided missiles
· Talash missile system with long range and the ability to be synchronized with existing ground-to-air systems
· Jooya radar system, introduced within Mersad missile system, capable of fighting flying objects at low and mid altitude as well as ballistic missiles
· Kavosh radar, another part of Mersad missile system
· Hadi radar, another part of Mersad missile system
· Hog TLV missile, for targeting low and mid-altitude objects
· Rapier missile system, providing low-altitude defense, suitable for securing refineries and nuclear facilities, upgraded with Iranian expertise
· Ya Zahra missile system, for destroying flying objects with different velocities
· Shoulder-launched missile Misaq, infrared homing, suitable for targeting low-altitude blind spots
· DZ intelligence system for collecting Alient system’s signal data
· Baser-2 eavesdropping headquarters vehicle
· Toposcatter telecommunication system capable of communicating up to the tropospheric layer
· Rasul communication system for communicating missile sensor and radar data with commanding headquarters
· Fakoor updated communication system, capable of receiving, processing, and transferring data according to up-to-date methods
· Shahab communication system for secure, long-distance communication
· Central communication system for communicating with military and civil aircraft
· Fath-2 radar system
· 10-Shahrivar passive radar system
· Kheibar reconnaissance system
Over the past decades, the Islamic Republic has domestically increased its military capabilities under international pressure.

Despite international concerns, Tehran has frequently asserted that its military power serves defense exclusively and would be at the service of regional stability. See more pictures here.

Senior Iranian Cleric Warns Obama "It (US) will take the wish for inking an agreement with Iran to the grave".

Senior Iranian Cleric Warns Obama "it(US) will take the wish for inking an agreement with Iran to the grave". (Fars).

Tehran's Provisional Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kerman warned US President Barack Obama of Iran's reaction to any violation of Washington's undertakings within the framework of the Lausanne understanding signed by Tehran and the world powers.

Addressing a large and fervent congregation of people on Tehran University campus on Friday, Ayatollah Movahedi Kermani underlined the Iranian nation's vigilance against the enemies' plots, and advised the American officials to leave their tricky behavior and try to save the little reputation left for them.

Responding to Obama's remarks that if Iran violated its undertakings even for an inch, all lifted sanctions would snap back again, he said Washington should know that if it violates its undertakings even an iota, "it will take the wish for inking an agreement with Iran to the grave".

His remarks came after a senior Iranian negotiator announced that representatives of Tehran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) would kick start drafting a final nuclear agreement next Tuesday.

"Next Tuesday, the new trend and working on the draft (agreement) will kick start to get it ready for July 1, and we should prepare the generalities and details of that," Director General for Political Affairs at the Iranian Foreign Ministry and nuclear negotiator Hamid Baeidinejad said in Tehran on Tuesday night in a meeting with a number of Iranian university professors and lawyers.

After nine days of hard work in Lausanne, Switzerland, Iran and the G5+1 reached an understanding on April 2 which laid the ground for them to start drafting the final nuclear deal over Tehran's nuclear energy program ahead of a July 1 deadline.

Reading out a joint statement at a press conference with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Lausanne on April 2, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said according to the agreement, all the US, EU and UN Security Council sanctions against Iran would be lifted under the final deal.

"Our decision today that will be the agreed base for the final text of the Joint Plan of Action (the final deal) is of vital importance," Zarif said, reading the joint statement at the press conference.

"Now we can start drafting the final agreement and its annexations by relying on the solutions achieved in the last few days," he said after eight days of marathon talks with negotiators from the six world powers.

"As Iran continues its peaceful nuclear program, the degree and capacity of its enrichment and the size of its (enriched uranium) stockpile will be limited for specific periods and Natanz will be the only enrichment center in Iran. Nuclear enrichment R&D on centrifuge machines in Iran will be conducted on the basis of an agreed timeline and level."

Zarif said Fordo would turn from a nuclear enrichment plant to a nuclear, physics and technological center, where Iran will receive international cooperation. Read the full story here.

U.N. nuclear watchdog: "No Break through with Iran on outstanding issues"

U.N. nuclear watchdog: "No Break through with Iran on outstanding issues"(Reuters).

The U.N. nuclear watchdog said it had a "constructive exchange" with Iran this week but there was no sign of a breakthrough on aspects of its nuclear program that the agency says Tehran has failed to fully address.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is investigating Iran's nuclear program in parallel to talks between Tehran and six world powers that aim to broker a deal by the end of June to scale down the program in exchange for sanctions relief.

In any final deal, the IAEA would play a major role in monitoring Iran's compliance.

The IAEA said in March it expected progress with Iran this month on outstanding issues related to the nature of neutron calculations and alleged experiments on explosives that could be used to develop an atomic device. It said then it expected Iran to propose new measures to address other outstanding issues with the IAEA by mid-April.

The IAEA on Thursday issued a short statement saying it had technical talks with Iranian officials in Tehran on Wednesday, making no mention of major developments.

"The two sides ... had a constructive exchange on the two practical measures under discussion," it said. "The Agency and Iran will continue this dialogue and agreed to meet again in the near future." Hmmmm......Stalling since Hussein Obama became president.

Video - First images of alleged S-300 system for Iran in action.

Meeting with Pres Hussein Obama; one rabbi described it as 'one of the tensest meetings I can ever remember'

Meeting with Pres Hussein Obama; one rabbi described it as 'one of the tensest meetings I can ever remember' (TM). HT: CarlInJerusalem.

“It was one of the tensest meetings I can ever remember,” said one participant who has been invited to many White House sit-downs over the years and requested anonymity.

“The president spoke for 25 minutes, without notes,” he told me. “It was very impressive.

Some people said very nice things, others expressed concerns, and talked about the role of Congress, and he talked about presidential prerogative, and cited other precedents for it.

Lots of people challenged him very strongly, like about taking the threats of dictators seriously when Khamenei says death to America, death to Israel, death to the Jews. The president said he knows what the regime is, which is why he is trying to take away their weapons. He didn’t dismiss what the Iranians say, he just didn’t really address it.” (Silence is approving)

Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal center, who also attended the meeting, was willing to speak on the record to Tablet.

“Speaking for myself,” said Hier, “I was not satisfied.” Hier declined to describe the president’s comments but told me the point he made in the meeting.

“Mr. President,” he said, “in a few weeks, you and others will be going to Germany to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps. What meaning does that have when while negotiating over the nuclear treaty with Iran, none of the six powers said a word when the ayatollah Tweeted about annihilating the state of Israel, or a leading general in the IRGC said this is the regime’s raison d’etre?

What meaning does the 70th anniversary have? Hitler said he was going to murder all the Jews in a letter from 1919, and he wound up doing it. If you hear the ayatollah saying that, every world leader should repudiate it immediately.”

What Obama is doing may be even worse than what Roosevelt did 70 years ago.

Roosevelt never lifted a finger to save European Jews, but he did defeat the Nazis. Obama writes letters to the man who threatens to exterminate Jews and promises him peace.

American Jewish leaders have plenty to worry about. The cost to American political life of legitimizing exterminationist anti-Semitism may turn out to be one of the worst parts of a bad deal.

Obama isn't even going to fight Iran, and he is attempting to hogtie his successor into abstaining from a fight as well. Read the whole thing.

Related: At 'pleasant, cooperative' meeting Jewish group urges Hussein Obama to remove UN backing for Israel.

UN nuclear watchdog says had 'constructive' talks with Iran on two remaining unanswered questions.

UN nuclear watchdog says had 'constructive' talks with Iran on two remaining unanswered questions. (Taz).

The five-member team visiting Iran comprised senior IAEA safeguards officials, including the UN nuclear watchdog's Deputy Director General for Safeguards Tero Varjoranta.

At the time, AEOI Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said the discussions focused on the two remaining issues in Iran's nuclear dossier.

Noting that the IAEA had delayed declaring the results of its analysis of the information sent by Iran about the two recent issues that were mentioned in the third stage of their cooperation agreement, the spokesman said one of these cases was about the alleged initiation of explosives in Marivan, and the other one is related to papers published in Iran in relation to neutron transport and associated modeling and calculations and their alleged application to compressed materials.

"Iran has told them that if they think some explosions have taken place, they should specify its location so that we will give you (controlled) access (to such alleged sites)," Kamalvandi said.

He explained that Iran and the IAEA's step-by-step cooperation was based on this agreement that the two sides could deal with other steps only after finalizing different subjects mentioned in the previous step, and thus, Tehran and the UN nuclear watchdog would not deal with other issues before wrapping up the two aforementioned issues with regard to Marivan and neutron transport case.

The UN nuclear watchdog said on Thursday it had a "constructive exchange" this week with Iran on two issues related to its nuclear program that the agency says Tehran has been failing to fully address since August, Reuters reported.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) investigation runs parallel to talks between Tehran and six world powers that aim to broker a deal by end-June to scale down Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

The IAEA, which held technical talks with Iranian officials in Tehran on Wednesday, said the two sides would meet again soon, without giving a date.

The IAEA had said it expected progress this month on the two outstanding issues, which are related to the nature of neutron calculations and alleged experiments on explosives that could be used to develop an atomic device.

It has also expected Iran to propose new measures to address other outstanding issues with the IAEA, but the IAEA did not mention any new steps. Iran's IAEA envoy in Vienna did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Diplomats have voiced concern there could be little progress in the IAEA probe until a final political deal is reached. The United States, France, Russia, China, Britain and Germany agreed on a framework deal with Iran on April 2.

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

Why has the Iran-Russia S-300 system delivery agreement not been updated? (Taz).

While Iranian defense minister Hossein Dehghan's visit to Russia was aimed to sign a new agreement for delivering the long overdue S-300 missile systems, he said Apr.16 that any new agreement between the sides was not necessary.

Before Dehghan's statement, the member of Iran Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Esmaeil Kowsari told Trend April 15 that Iran supports the implementation of the agreement signed in 2007 on delivering S-300, but regarding the fact that Russia put ban over selling them to Iran in 2010, the agreement might be updated.

Russia signed the contract in 2007 to sell Iran five S-300 ground-to-air missile systems. The $800-million contract to deliver S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran was cancelled in 2010 by then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, falling in line with the UN sanctions imposed on Iran due to its disputed nuclear program.

In turn, Tehran filed a currently pending $4-billion lawsuit against Russia in Geneva's arbitration court. However, Russia President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to lift the ban over delivering a long-overdue missile system S-300 to Iran on April 13.

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.


According to the old agreement, Russia was obliged to deliver five S-300 systems. It's not clear whether the ready S-300 systems require any change to become adopted with Iran's needs or not, but as Dehgan said today, the exact dates for delivering the systems to Iran are still under discussion.

Russian S-300 complexes supply issue solved - Iranian defense minister.

Russian S-300 complexes supply issue solved - Iranian defense minister. (Taz).

The supply issue of S-300 complexes is solved, Tehran expects that the issue of the contract with Russia will move to the operational sphere, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said.

“This issue has been resolved,” Dehghan said while answering the question about the prospects for the supplies of S-300 complexes.


“We signed the contract with the Russian side 6 years ago,” he said. “And some of the items of this contract will correspond to approximate conditions. We hope that this contract will move to the operational sphere.”

'Peaceful & Moderate' Iran to unveil next week homemade S-300 missile system.

Bavar373

Iran to unveil next week homemade S-300 missile system. (Taz).

Iran will unveil the long-range Bavar-373 homegrown missile defense system next week to rival the Russian S-300 system.

Commander of the Iranian Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili said that the Bavar-373 system will be unveiled on April 18, marking the National Army Day, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported on April 11.

He added that the country’s latest achievements in missile, radar, and electronic signals intelligence will be unveiled on the same occasion.

Under a contract signed in 2007, Russia was obliged to provide Iran with at least five S-300 defense systems.

However, Moscow refused to deliver the system to Iran under the pretext that it is covered by the fourth round of the United Nations Security Council sanctions against Tehran over its disputed nuclear program.

Iranian officials say over the past years, the country has attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly assured its neighbors that its military might poses no threat to other countries, insisting that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.

Russia Ready to Sell S-300 Missiles to 'peaceful' Iran if Sanctions Fall

Russia Ready to Sell S-300 Missiles to 'peaceful' Iran if Sanctions Fall.(SP).

Negotiators from Iran, the United States and other world powers agreed on Thursday to a framework for a final agreement to curb Tehran’s nuclear program.

Iran agreed in principle to accept significant restrictions on its nuclear facilities for at least a decade and submit to international inspections.

In return, economic sanctions unilaterally imposed on the Islamic Republic by the US and EU will be lifted.

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov then said that a UN arms embargo against Iran should also go.

"Lifting sanctions on Iran, including the arms embargo, would be an absolutely logical thing to do,” said Igor Korotchenko, who heads the Global Arms Trade Analysis Center think tank in Moscow.

“Of key importance to us is the delivery of the upgraded S-300 missiles to Iran… A contract to this effect could be resumed on terms acceptable to both Moscow and Tehran,” he added.

In 2007, Russia contracted to sell to Iran $800 million worth of S-300 missile units. Moscow suspended the contract in 2010 following a UN Security Council resolution to stop the sale of arms to Iran due to its controversial nuclear energy program. Hmmmm.......'Flexibility'.

Iran insists on implementing S-300 missile system deal with Russia

Iranian DIY S-300.

Iran insists on implementing missile system deal with Russia. (Taz).

Iran still insists on getting the S-300 missile system from Russia, the country’s Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said.

He said that Russian side has illegally canceled the contract under the pressure from Israel and the US, Iran’s Mehr news agency reported Dec. 20.

Russians used the international sanctions as an excuse to repeal the agreement meanwhile the contract was signed before the sanctions, he said.

In December 2006 the UN Security Council imposed a partial embargo on the export of technology related to nuclear weapon delivery systems to Iran, which includes certain technologies which can be used in conventional military applications. This was followed in June 2010 by a UN embargo on the export of most major conventional weapons to Iran.

Dehghan said that Iran did not accept the Russian offer for substituting S-300, adding that Iran has fulfilled its commitments within the agreement and wants Russia to do the same.
A contract inked in 2007 requires Russia to provide Iran with at least five S-300 missile defense systems.

However, Moscow refrained from meeting its obligations under the pretext that they were covered by the fourth round of the UN Security Council resolutions against Iran.

In September 2010, then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree banning the delivery of the S-300 systems to the Islamic Republic.

Russia's refusal to deliver the systems under the contract prompted Iran to file a complaint with the International Court of Arbitration in Geneva against the Russian arms company Rosoboronexport.

Earlier Iranian media outlets reported that Tehran has rejected Russia's proposal to supply the Islamic Republic with S-300VM "Antey-2500" anti-ballistic missile system, instead of the promised S-300 system. Hmmm......Lol...Whatever happened to 'our home build system is better then the S-300'?

Breaking- IAF bombed 2 military targets near Damascus airport & Dimas, stockpiles of Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles - Updates

Breaking- IAF bombed 2 military targets near Damascus airport & Dimas, stockpiles of Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles - Syria News Agency.

DRAMATIC PHOTO - SYRIA: Israeli fighter jets over skies of Damascus following air strikes targeting 2 military sites. pic.twitter.com/DfrzzXka9X
— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) December 7, 2014

New photos just released from Syrian media showing aftermath of reported Israeli strikes near Damascus today. pic.twitter.com/nzu7ynYIDF
— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) December 7, 2014

PHOTO 2 - SYRIA: Moments of the massive explosions by IAF in Dimas targeting military sites near Damascus. pic.twitter.com/GOc4tFVTfg
— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) December 7, 2014

BREAKING PHOTO - SYRIA: Moments of the massive explosions by IAF on Dimas near Damascus targeting military site. pic.twitter.com/ozVYV6xt9U
— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) December 7, 2014

RIGHT NOW - SYRIA: Intense IAF activity over Damascus following airstrikes, targeting 2 military sites, no casualties reported.
— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) December 7, 2014

BREAKING PHOTO: Smoke over Dimas Air Base near Damascus in Syria, following explosions, possible Israeli air strike. pic.twitter.com/TQ4eNDb1e3
— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) December 7, 2014

UPDATE: IAF bombed 2 military targets near Damascus airport & Dimas, stockpiles of Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles - Syria News Agency
— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) December 7, 2014

BREAKING NEWS - SYRIA: Massive explosions blasted, Dimas Air base in Damascus targeted, possible Israeli air strike, no details yet.
— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) December 7, 2014

Israel Conducts Airstrikes on Damascus Int'l Airport: Source / Sputnik International http://t.co/sAV1BmRbz6
— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) December 7, 2014

UPDATE: Targets of #Israel's strikes in #Damascus, #Syria were airbase, Iranian missiles en route to #Hezbollah & other military bases.
— Military Studies (@ArmedResearch) December 7, 2014

#Hezbollah announces martyrdom of fighter Mohsen Ja'far Solman by "israeli" strike on Damascus v @erhngngr68 pic.twitter.com/gvEaRyYMSE

— Fer Gunay (@FGunay1) December 7, 2014

@FGunay1 Hezbollah will response to this attack. Like it always does. An "eye for an eye" has been Hezbollah's stand towards Israel

— Fer Gunay (@FGunay1) December 7, 2014

Related? Russian destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov enters Syrian port of Tartus.

Did they deliver S-300 Parts?

Iran's IRGC declares it has constructed highly advanced air defense system, more sophisticated than the Russian S-300.

Iran's IRGC declares it has constructed highly advanced air defense system, more sophisticated than the Russian S-300.HT: UskowiOnIran.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Lieutenant Commander Brigadier General Hossein Salami has said that his organization now has a domestically produced missile defense system that is more sophisticated than the Russian S-300 air defense units Iran has in the past tried to acquire.

He declared that it is, "An air defense system more advanced than what they didn't supply to us due to their strategic interests."

He said this system will not be displayed to the media or the general public but will instead for now "remain confidential." (Ground Report, June 1)

Iran had in 2007 signed an $800 million contract with Russia to buy five S-300 missile defines systems. However in 2010 the Russians refused to fulfill its side of the agreement and expanded sanctions the UN Security Council imposed on Iran in that year. Iran accordingly filed a $4 billion lawsuit with Russia in the international arbitration court in Geneva. Which still has to be examined (Fars News, May 31)

Salami went as far as to claim that these missiles have "pinpoint precision capability when fired at mobile targets. This might be impossible in terms of science, but it is true and, in addition to us, only the Russians might possess this technology and even the Americans do not have it."

Iran seeks to import Russian S300 or some similar missile systems.

S-300 Complex.

Iran seeks to import Russian S300 or some similar missile systems.(Taz).

Iran and Russia are negotiating to boost their ties in the fields of Anti-aircraft warfare and radar systems, the Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base, Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili said on Sunday.

"Iran seeks to import S300 or some similar missile systems which are completely defensive," he said.

He made the remarks after his meeting with the Russia's Air Force Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Viktor Bondarev.

The Russian Commander is in Tehran for talks with senior Iranian military officials.
Bondarev has also met with Iran's air force commander, Brigadier General Hassan Shah-Safi.
His four-day visit is aimed at expanding cooperation in the field of military and missile systems.

Report: Russia to offer Iran S-300 missiles, new nuclear reactor.

Report: Russia to offer Iran S-300 missiles, new nuclear reactor.(Ynet).

Russia will offer Iran a new supply of S-300 missiles and assistance in the construction of an additional nuclear reactor in Bushehr, Russian paper Kommersant reported Wednesday.

The proposal comes three years after a previous agreement under which Russia was expected to transfer five S-300 batteries to Iran was canceled. A week and a half ago Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed in an interview for AP that Moscow supplied Syria with components for the system, but that the shipment was not completed.
According to a source within the Kremlin, Putin decided to grant an Iranian request to supply the Islamic Republic with the high-end S-300 air defense system with a deal estimated at $800 million which will also include coordinating the construction of an additional nuclear reactor in Bushehr.
According to the report, Putin has instructed his staff to prepare the agreements so as to discuss them with Iranian President Hassan Rohani during the two leaders’ scheduled meeting on Friday. The source believes that Teheran will accept the renewed Russian proposal.
According to Wednesday's report, the arms deal is conditioned on Iran's withdrawal of a $4 billion damages suit filed against Russia with the International Court of Arbitration in Geneva after Moscow backed out of the 2007 deal. At the time, Russia offered the Islamic Republic an alternative system instead of the S-300, but the Iranians refused.

Syria crisis - Standoff In The Mediterranean: The US Vs Russian Navies.

Syria crisis - Standoff In The Mediterranean: The US Vs Russian Navies.HT: ZeroHedge.

While the leaders of the two superpowers are shaking hands for the camera in St. Petersburg, their navies are sending a different message. 

Here is the latest breakdown of the world’s key navies in the Mediterranean theater of naval operations as of last night. By now it is likely woefully outdated, now that there are reports the Chinese have joined the fray too (not on the side of the ‘free droning world’). 

Hmmm.......How many US and Russian subs ?

Russian large landing ship Nikolai Filchenkov heads to coast of Syria.

Russian large landing ship Nikolai Filchenkov heads to coast of Syria.(RBTH).

The large landing ship Nikolai Filchenkov of the Russian Black Sea Fleet on Friday will leave Sevastopol for Novorossiysk, from where it will then depart for the coast of Syria, the General Staff of the Russian Navy told Interfax-AVN.

"The Nikolai Filchenkov under the command of Captain 2nd Rank Igor Dmitriyenko is immediately going on a distant mission today. The ship will go to Novorossiysk, where it will take special cargo (S-300?)on board and will head to its appointed combat service area in the Eastern Mediterranean," the source said.
The source in the General Staff of the Russian Navy said the warship has just returned to Sevastopol after four voyages to the Mediterranean from Novorossiysk. The ship had been working on tasks as part of the naval group since April.

Two more Russian naval ships to join Mediterranean unit.

The Nastoichivy destroyer of the Russian Baltic Fleet and the Smetlivy escort ship of the Black Sea Fleet will join the Russian naval unit in the Mediterranean within the next few days, a Russian Navy Main Staff source told Interfax-AVN on Wednesday.
"The Smetlivy escort ship will start its combat mission in the Mediterranean according to the operational command's plans within the next few days. There are plans that the Nastoichivy destroyer, the Baltic Fleet flagship, should join our ships as well," the source said.
The Smetlivy has a water displacement of 4,460 tonnes and is armed with the Kh-35 Uran anti-ship missiles, the AK-726 artillery system, the Volna anti-aircraft missile system (16 missiles), a 533-mm torpedo launcher (5 torpedoes), and two RBU-100 launchers.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry information, the Neustrashimy escort vessel and the Alexander Shabalin, Admiral Nevelskoi, and Peresvet landing ships are currently performing their missions in line with the operational headquarters' plans.
The Novocherkassk and Minsk landing ships belonging to Russia's Black Sea Fleet and Baltic Fleet should join the group on September 5-6. The SSV-21 Priazovye medium reconnaissance vessel, which left the port of Sevastopol on September 1, is performing a special General Staff mission.

Related: Russia sends warship with ‘special cargo’ towards Syria

Former commander of the Russian Air Defense Forces: "Syrian Army may have S-300 missile systems.'

S-300

Former commander of the Russian Air Defense Forces: "Syrian Army may have S-300 missile systems.'(RBTH).

The Syrian Armed Forces might possess S-300 surface-to-air missile systems in addition to S-200, Buk-M1-2, Buk-M2E, Pantsir-S1E, S-125 Neva and S-125M Pechyora systems, which would allow Damascus to successfully respond to U.S. air and sea missile attacks, a Moscow military source familiar with the situation said.

"Syria's air defense systems are able to appropriately respond to strikes by the U.S. and its anti-Syrian coalition allies, should a war begin. Today Damascus has approximately 1,000 air defense missile systems and more than 5,000 different air defense weapons," a former commander of the Russian Air Defense Forces told Interfax-AVN on Friday.
The source did not rule out that the Syrian Armed Forces might also possess S-300 missile systems.
"Russia did not deliver these systems to the Syrians in the past, which was confirmed at the highest level, but Belarus or China could have done so tacitly in 2010-2011," he said.

Related: Flashback May 2013.

Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta: "Russian military experts are in Syria,They prepare the four divisions of S-300 for combat."

Updated Syrian Air Force and Air Defense Capabilities