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Last update - 17:50 01/09/2008
Iran: We haven't bought Russian anti-aircraft missile batteries
By Reuters
Tags: Iran, Israel, Russia, Nuclear

Iran denied on Monday it had bought Russia's advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, after Israeli defense sources said the Islamic Republic could receive a delivery of the weapons by the end of the year.

Western and Israeli experts have said that if Tehran acquired the S-300 missile batteries it would become much more difficult for Israel or the United States to carry out a possible attack on Iran's nuclear facilites.

T
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he U.S. and Israel say Tehran wants to build atomic bombs despite Tehran's claim its nuclear program has only civilian aims. They have not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to resolve the dispute.

Asked whether it had bought missiles from Russia, including the S-300 system, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said: "No such thing is correct."

He also told the news conference: "Our missile and technical capability completely depends on Iranian scientific capability, as has been demonstrated so far."

Iran has frequently announced test firings of domestically produced missiles, which military commanders say will target U.S. interests and Israel if Iran is attacked.

There have been conflicting reports about whether Iran was buying the S-300 system. Iran's Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said last year Russia had agreed to deliver the missiles to Iran under a signed contract. Russia denied such plans.

The U.S. Department of Defense said in July that Iran was not expected to receive the anti-aircraft system this year.

Those remarks followed comments by Israeli defense sources who said they expected Iran to take delivery by the end of 2008.

First delivery of the S-300 batteries was expected as soon as early September, one Israeli source had said, though it could take six to 12 months for them to be deployed and operable.

Western experts say many of Iran's missiles and other weapons it produces domestically are based on or modified versions of arms bought from others, such as China and North Korea.

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  • Report: Iran to buy Russian air defense system via Syria
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      1.   nothing will help them 15:39  |  Vitaly 01/09/08
      2.   A huge U.S.-Israeli matzo ball to Iran soon 15:56  |  Nick Potzayid 01/09/08
      3.   Iran Missiles 15:57  |  Sunjeev Johal 01/09/08
      4.   Yes, we have no bananas 16:14  |  Natallie Durson 01/09/08
      5.   How much tougher? 16:28  |  W 01/09/08
      6.   And the dreamers keep dreaming..... 16:30  |  Persian Hero 01/09/08
      7.   IT MEANS, OF COURSE "WE BOUGHT THEM" FROM RUSIA 17:24  |  indrajaya 01/09/08
      8.   Finally a message is getting through. 17:41  |  Stephen 01/09/08
      9.   Wont really matter 17:43  |  Sabra 01/09/08
      10.   w 5 18:03  |  potobac 01/09/08
      11.   Will the world tolerate a nuclear Iran and missilles for its ... 18:08  |  Jean Van Daem 01/09/08
      12.   They will never be used 18:10  |  Natallie Durson 01/09/08
      13.   S-300 18:13  |  Barry 01/09/08
      14.   #8 - S300 NOT an implement of war 18:18  |  Danny 01/09/08
      15.   dont kid yourselves 18:52  |  matt 01/09/08
      16.   Don`t say "Iran, Shmiran..." 18:58  |  Fortuina Benmayor 01/09/08
      17.   to natallie dursson 19:17  |  Thierry 01/09/08
      18.   Stephen from Geneve 19:40  |  Persian Kitty 01/09/08
      19.   Danny, Who are you kidding.....? 19:42  |  Stephen 01/09/08
      20.   Durson 12-heart`s desire vs reality 19:54  |  Stephen in New York 01/09/08
      21.   simply bomb them first 20:04  |  frenz 01/09/08
      22.   Matt (15) The Pentagon are full of advisors. 20:09  |  Stephen 01/09/08
      23.   Rest assure no one dares to attack Iran. 20:53  |  Persian Hero 01/09/08
      24.   They did not Buy ...Could it be a Gift? 21:03  |  enough incentives 01/09/08
      25.   #4 Natallie is Correct--For Once! 21:05  |  US CITIZEN 01/09/08
      26.   Hey #20 What`s Not Real About #20? 21:13  |  Joesph L. 01/09/08
      27.   Persian Kitty (18) On good night Teheran. 21:30  |  Stephen 01/09/08
      28.   The plum is almost ripe 23:19  |  Gregor 01/09/08
      29.   stephen 19 00:00  |  potobac 02/09/08
      30.   can`t trust the Iranians 00:25  |  karen 02/09/08
      31.   Heads up! These are EXPERTS talking 00:27  |  Jim 02/09/08
      32.   ramadan mubarak to iran 00:27  |  sev 02/09/08
      33.   #4 Natalie Durson 00:40  |  Jim 02/09/08
      34.   #5 - How much tougher? 00:55  |  kibblets 02/09/08
      35.   #13 - Clarification 01:01  |  Kibblets 02/09/08
      36.   anti-aircraft batteries 01:09  |  Shmuelshachor 02/09/08
      37.   #11 Jean Van Daem 01:11  |  Jim 02/09/08
      38.   maybe persian kitty can develop some anti-aircraft 01:22  |  terrornator 02/09/08
      39.   persian kitty RE stephen,just because you say iranians are 01:34  |  terrornator 02/09/08
      40.   Syria: We Haven`t Bought S-300`s Either 01:37  |  Reader 02/09/08
      41.   persian zero,does bragging make you feel bigger than you really a 01:42  |  terrornator 02/09/08
      42.   #13 Barry 01:42  |  Jim 02/09/08
      43.   #14 Danny 01:48  |  Jim 02/09/08
      44.   #14 Danny 01:50  |  Jim 02/09/08
      45.   Karen # 29 er: can`t trust the Iranians? 04:43  |  American in NY 02/09/08
      46.   To Stephen from Geneve 05:09  |  Persian Kitty 02/09/08
      47.   The evidence 06:11  |  Mark Lincoln 02/09/08
      48.   Persian Kitty, Goodmorning Teheran. 12:23  |  Stephen 02/09/08
      49.   Terrornator 15:00  |  Persian Hero 02/09/08
      50.   # 1 vitaly 21:34  |  Axel 02/09/08
      51.   Stephen from Geneve (2nd Try) 23:23  |  Persian Kitty 02/09/08
      52.   # 22 stephen 23:25  |  Axel 02/09/08
      53.   # 41 terrornator 01:58  |  Axel 03/09/08
      54.   the weak israel 02:19  |  VIPER 03/09/08
      55.   This is almost funny! 13:43  |  Steve 05/09/08
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