Barak to Russia: Don't sell advanced missiles to Iran

Defense Minister Ehud Barak asked Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov yesterday to prevent his country from selling advanced anti-aircraft missiles to Iran.

Defense sources said Barak did not name the S-300 air-defense missile system, whose sale the two countries have been rumored to be negotiating, but referred to it indirectly by saying Israel expects Russia to refrain from introducing weapons that would change the balance of power in the region.

The international press has reported that Russia and Iran agreed on the sale of the missile system two years ago but that Russia is delaying delivery of the weapons because of pressure from Israel and apparently from the United States. A top Russian defense official says Russia has not delivered any S-300 systems to Iran, the Interfax news agency reported this week.

Russia has previously sold the Tor-M1 air-defense missile system and other weapons to Iran in deals criticized by the United States and Israel. The long-range S-300 is a much more advanced weapon that would make any potential Israeli strike at Iran's nuclear facilities more difficult.

Last year, a senior Defense Ministry envoy urged Russia not to sell Iran the missiles, saying they could help the Islamic Republic destroy Israel, according to a Russian news agency report.

The S-300 missile system is also seen as threat to the air forces of U.S. allies such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Japan, and Taiwan, which are not equipped with aircraft that can counter the weapons.