Rusia e Irán continúan conversaciones sobre misiles S-300/Talks continue on Russian deliveries of S-300 missiles to Iran

Rusia continúa negociando la entrega de misiles superficie aire S-300 a Iran, según un portavoz oficial ruso. Este declaró que los contratos están firmados y se van a cumplir, estando por decidir la fecha de entrega. Rusia se comprometió a la venta a Irán de cinco baterías de misiles S-300 en 2005, pero ha estado lejos de cumplir con el contrato por presiones de Estados Unidos e Israel. Ambos países no han descartado una acción militar si la diplomacia falla para resolver la cuestión del programa nuclear iraní. Los misiles S-300 reforzarían notablemente las defensas antiaéreas de Iran.
Las versiones mas avanzadas del S-300 tienen un alcance de unos 150 kilómetros y pueden interceptar misiles balísticos y aeronaves a cualquier altura.
La situación del contrato depende en gran medida de la situación internacional.
Irán ha declarado que denunciará a Rusia en tribunales internacionales si finalmente no cumple el contrato.
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Russia continues to hold talks on deliveries of S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Iran, a Russian defense official said on Wednesday
"Contracts have been signed, and they are being implemented - they have not been torn up," head of the Federal Agency for Military Cooperation Mikhail Dmitriyev said. He reiterated that Russia has not yet decided on the date for the delivery of the systems.
Russia signed a contract with Iran on the supply of at least five S-300 air defense systems to Tehran in December 2005. However, Moscow has not so far honored the contract, which many experts say is due to pressure from Washington and Tel Aviv.
Both the United States and Israel have not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program and have expressed concern over S-300 deliveries, which would significantly strengthen Iran's air defenses.
The advanced version of the S-300 missile system, called S-300PMU1 (SA-20 Gargoyle), has a range of over 150 kilometers (over 100 miles) and can intercept ballistic missiles and aircraft at low and high altitudes, making the system an effective tool for warding off possible airstrikes.
Russian defense industry officials have repeatedly said that Russia is interested in fulfilling the contract, which is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, but the future of the contract would largely depend on the current situation in international affairs and the Kremlin's position.
Iranian officials have said that Iran could sue Russia in an international court if Moscow refuses to fulfill its commitments on the delivery of the S-300 system to Tehran.

The long-disputed issue came into media spotlight again on the eve of the signing of a new nuclear arms reduction treaty between Moscow and Washington to be signed by presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama on April 8 in Prague.