Russia denies permitting Syria to sell air defense systems to Iran
Russian FM: Contract terms forbid Syria from reselling Russian-made system without Russian approval.
By ReutersRussia on Wednesday said it had not given its agreement for Syria to resell Russian air defense systems to Iran.
Jane's Defense Weekly reported this week that Syria has agreed to supply Iran with at least 10 out of the 50 Pantsyr-S1E systems that Damascus is in the process of buying from Russia.
Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said the terms of the contract with Syria forbade the resale of weapons to third countries unless Russia gave its express agreement.
"Syria has submitted no requests [for resale] to Russia, not for the Pantsyr or for even a single bullet," Ivanov, who is in overall charge of Russia's defense sector, told a news conference.
Ivanov did not confirm that Iran had acquired any of the air defense systems from Syria.
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While it is true that every sovereign nation has a right to defend itself, Iran and the western world are in a moment of crisis. Deploying such a system (nearly 100% effective) would make it impossible to have surveillance overflights of Iran's nuclear facilities, commercial passenger flights near the Iranian borders, and possibly even break up the UN security council.
I realize not yet installed already Syria is wheeling dealing advanced military equipment to Iran Russia crys foul needs approve it still afraid scared of America England Russia RIGHT ??? shame shame shame where are the hard line Stalin Lenin people who fight Western decadence RIGHT ??? Syria Russia pair of socialist states with Israel in the middle 2007 not 1947 not 1937 not 1917 RIGHT ??? David Ben Gurion is probably laughing in his grave at Syria Russia RIGHT ??? THANK YOU... M. Segal
With his cold war mentality, the ex-KGB director will say anything and do anything to placate the Arabs and damage the West.
Russia should give the air defense system for free to Iran, like the USA give war toys, cluster bombs,F 16, Apaches,Cat, napalm,and so on for free to Israel.
Syria and Iran are allies of Russia and it is natural that the Russian made weapons would end up defending these countries. It was quite sickening in the second Lebanon war to see Israeli bombers bombing Beruit, far from the front lines, and not a shot being fired in defense. Many hundreds of civilians were killed at no risk to the IAF. Perhaps thats why they kept coming back. I for one think that if a country sends an air force to bomb the civilians of another country that they should be met with a curtain of anti air weapons. I don't care which countries are involved, but it seems only fair. If a person is so all-fired hot to kill people, let his own a** be on the line as well. If America won't sell these weapons of self defense to Syria and Iran, I applaud Russia for doing it (even if Russia is too shy to admit it)
as we all know and the reasons are as clear as spring water, they are hardly in a position to give up any of them. The lack of any proof gives the Jane story a somewhat propagandistic shine over it.