Putin lifts ban on S-300 delivery to Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing Russia to ship S-300 air defense systems to Iran, the Russian presidential press service reported.

The decree lifts the ban on transit through the Russian territory, including by air, the delivery from the Russian territory to Iran and the transfer outside of Russia with the use of vessels and aircraft flying the Russian state flag of S-300 missile air defense systems.

A contract on the delivery of five S-300 divisions to Iran with $800 million was signed in 2007. Three years later, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1929 that introduced sanctions, including the delivery of modern arms, on Iran.

Then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on the implementation of the resolution thus freezing the S-300 contract.

Iran in turn lodged a $4 billion suit against Russia's arms exporter Rosoboronexport with the International Court of Arbitration in Geneva.

Russia intends to seek Iran's revoking of the suit as the non-fulfillment of the contract was stipulated by the UN Security Council resolution.

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