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An Arrow missile being launched at an undisclosed location in Israel Friday Dec. 2, 2005 during a succesful test carried out by Israel of its Arrow missile defense system, intercepting and destroying a missile similar to Iran's long-range Shahab-3. (Photo released by Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd. / AP)
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| By Associated Press December 4, 2005 |
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All Russian weaponry supplied to Iran is purely for defensive purposes, the Foreign Ministry said Saturday, responding to news reports that Moscow was selling more than US$1 billion worth of missiles and other defense systems to Tehran.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin did not comment on any specifics of weapons deals, saying in a statement only that they were "exclusively defensive weapons."
"All contracts concluded in the military-technical cooperation area fully comply with our international commitments, including in the sphere of nonproliferation, and are in full compliance with Russian law," he said, according to the statement.
The statement appeared to be timed to head off the expected heated reaction from the United States following reports in Russian media Friday that Russian and Iranian officials had signed contracts in November that would send up to 30 Tor-M1 missile systems to Iran over the next two years.
Interfax said the Tor-M1 system could identify up to 48 targets and fire at two targets simultaneously at a height of up to 20,000 feet (6,100 meters).
On Saturday, an influential Iranian official downplayed the deal, telling the official Islamic Republic News Agency that Iran has been trading arms with many countries and would continue to do so.
"Iran's and Russia's military cooperation is not a complicated issue," said Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. "It existed before, and there was no ban on it."
"We do not see any necessity to answer any question in this regard," Larijani said.
An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman on Friday said he was unaware of the reported deal between Russia and Iran, but said it would harm regional security.
"When a country hopes to strengthen the military potential of Iran, they are serving to strengthen the most negative elements in the region," spokesman Mark Regev told The Associated Press in Jerusalem.
Israel considers Iran to be its biggest threat, and does not believe Tehran's claims that its nuclear program is peaceful. Israeli concerns were heightened recently after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad urged that Israel be "wiped off the map."
On Friday, Israel carried out a successful test of its Arrow missile defense system, intercepting and destroying a missile similar to Iran's long-range Shahab-3.
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