Lavrov to make statement on on lifting Russia's ban on S-300 supplies to Iran

MOSCOW, April 13. /TASS/. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will make a statement soon on Russia's decision to lift the ban on the supplies of S-300 missile systems to Iran, the Russian Foreign Ministry told TASS on Monday. President Vladimir Putin earlier on Monday signed a decree to lift the ban from the supplies of S-300 air defence missiles to Iran. "The decree cancels the ban from transit through Russia (including by air), transportation outside the territory of Russia to the Islamic Republic of Iran and also handover to the Islamic Republic of Iran outside the territory of Russia with the use of ships and aircraft flying the Russian state flag of the air defence missile systems S-300," the Kremlin’s press-service said. The implementation of the Russian-Iranian contract of 2007 for supplying the S-300 complexes was suspended following the introduction of sanctions against Iran in September 2010. Tehran later protested that decision in court. Shortly after Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu visited Iran last January the US Department of State said that supplies of Russian air defence complexes to Iran would be unacceptable. In the meantime, Iran has repeatedly voiced the hope Russia would eventually agree to provide the launchers. Read more