FM: Iran will not yield an iota of its national principles

Tehran, Oct 10, IRNA – Iran would not withdraw from its national principles even one iota regarding the issue of the S-300 air defense systems delivery to Tehran by Russia, Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said Sunday at the Majlis open session.

Salehi attended the parliament to answer questions of MPs over the cancellation of a deal by Russia to sell S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran.

Referring to Russia’s failure to fulfill its commitments based on previous agreements made between the two sides, Salehi said that the Foreign Ministry “has made due political and legal measures simultaneously” to pursue the case.

“Iran will firmly insist on its eligible rights and will not withdraw its national principles even one iota regarding the issue of the S-300 missiles,” Salehi stressed.

He said that the Russian ambassador in Tehran was summoned to the Foreign Ministry at the time when Moscow announced it had decided not to deliver the S-300 systems to Tehran.

In different meetings with Russian officials, Tehran made it clear that Moscow should even recompense Tehran in case of unfulfilment of its commitments on S-300 missiles’ delivery to the country.

Iran lodged a complaint with the International Court of Arbitration against Russia after Moscow refused to deliver the S-300 air-defense systems to Tehran in compliance with the two countries' contract which was signed in 2007.

Based on the deal, Russia was required to provide Iran with at least five S-300 air-defense systems.

However, Moscow's continued delays in delivering the defense system drew criticism from the Islamic Republic on several occasions./end