Russia dismisses Germany’s criticism of S-300 deal with Iran - Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. Russia dismisses criticism of its decision to go ahead with the supplies of air defence systems S-300 to Iran, a source at the Russian Foreign Ministry said in the wake of a recent statement by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who criticized Russia for the intention to sell S-300 to Iran and called for "cancelling sanctions together." "We have always sought collective, coordinated action in the sphere of the international community’s policy of sanctions, which implies respect for the exclusive prerogatives of the UN Security Council," the source said. "When the United States and EU member-countries, including Germany, introduced illegitimate sanctions against Iran in defiance of that principle, neither Germany’s chancellor, nor any other Western leader recalled the need for "acting together." "We cannot accept reproaches addressed to Russia over its decision to terminate the voluntary suspension of absolutely legal, not prohibited systems to Iran," the diplomat said. "Such attitudes look still more strange against the background of Berlin’s obsession to follow in Washington’s footsteps to use unilateral restrictions as a foreign policy instrument." Read more