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Report: Iran seeking Russian missiles to repel Israeli assault
By Reuters

Iran's defense minister will seek to convince Russia on Tuesday to deliver air defense systems which could help repel possible Israel and U.S. air strikes, Russian media reported.

Iran has long been interested in buying medium range Russian S-300 air defence systems from Russia but Israel has sought to convince Moscow not to deliver the systems.
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Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar met Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov in Moscow on Tuesday.

"I hope this visit will lead to the further development of relations between our two countries in all areas, including in the sphere of military cooperation," Najjar was quoted as saying by the Iranian embassy in Moscow.

Russia's Kommersant newspaper said Najjar will seek to get Russia to deliver the systems during his visit to Moscow, though the paper said Moscow was extremely wary of selling the systems to Tehran.

Russia has repeatedly denied it intends to sell Iran the S-300 systems. Najjar will meet Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov in Moscow on Tuesday.

Kommersant said an e800 million contract for five S-300 systems had already been signed between Iran and Russia, but the paper cited a source in the Russian weapons industry saying that Moscow had not yet made a decision on whether to deliver them.

An Iranian lawmaker said last year that deliveries had already begun and some Russian media have reported that Russia is fulfilling a S-300 contract with Iran.

Iran, which the West fears is trying to build a nuclear bomb, is emerging as an issue where the United States has signaled it could work more closely with Russia and thus ease the stormy relations with Moscow.

A senior U.S. administration official told Reuters this month that the if Russia agreed to help dissuade Iran from seeking nuclear weapons then Washington could slow development of a missile defense system in Europe.

The United States, its European allies and Israel say Iran is seeking to build nuclear arms under the cover of a civilian atomic energy program. Iran denies the charge.

The new administration of Barack Obama has said the U.S. is prepared to talk to Iran, a step that has dampened speculation about pre-emptive strikes against Iran.

Russia says it has seen no evidence that Iran is seeking to build a nuclear bomb and has warned that pushing Tehran into a corner would be counterproductive.

Russia is building Iran's first nuclear power plant in the southern port city of Bushehr, and says it will start up the reactor at the plant this year.

In October, Russia's Foreign Ministry denied media speculation that Moscow would sell the medium-range S-300 system, saying it had no intention of selling weapons to "troubled regions".

The most advanced version of the S-300 system can track targets and fire at aircraft 120 km away. It is known in the West as the SA-20.

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      1.   The quarterly S-300 story ... 12:28  |  Axel 17/02/2009
      2.   Russia will sell 14:20  |  Natallie Durson 17/02/09
      3.   So Iran isnt allowed defensive weapons ? 14:21  |  Jens 17/02/09
      4.   I have to agree with #3 Jens 14:51  |  Canadian 17/02/09
      5.   Missile illusions only exist on the blogs 15:38  |  allang 17/02/09
      6.   Missile illusions only exist on the blogs 16:05  |  allang 17/02/09
      7.   Do not ignore the ?lunacy? of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. 16:05  |  Jean Van Daem 17/02/09
      8.   Natelie Dumbston 16:32  |  ottomatik 17/02/09
      9.   Russians would be stupid 16:34  |  Medo 17/02/09
      10.   Experiments, war experiments, medicine experiments 16:41  |  Israeli citizen 17/02/09
      11.   # 4 Canadian You are confusing apples and oranges 20:38  |  Sarah 17/02/09
      12.   #11 Sarah 23:30  |  Johnboy 17/02/09
      13.   brainwashed citizens of the "civilized" world 23:45  |  Svenne Karlsson 17/02/09
      14.   Allang`s famous last words # 6 23:57  |  Fortuna Benmayor 17/02/09
      15.   Sarah #11 00:04  |  Stuart 18/02/09
      16.   Iran justified. Israel`s Settlements Enterprise at fault! 00:42  |  Ivar 18/02/09
      17.   Sarah`s nonsense! 01:02  |  Cyrus the Great 18/02/09
      18.   #12 John After Truman used the first nukes 01:24  |  Sarah 18/02/09
      19.   PSto John boy 01:29  |  Sarah 18/02/09
      20.   Boss, Boss! Ze Boogieman, ze Boogieman! 01:32  |  Mark Lincoln 18/02/09
      21.   # 15 sarah 02:24  |  Axel 18/02/09
      22.   Iran is a dangerous 10:49  |  Samuel Hendriks 20/02/09
      23.   S-300 is overrated! 10:12  |  General 20/03/09
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