November 24, 2006 :: AFP :: News
Russia has begun deliveries of the Tor-M1 air defense rocket system to Iran, according to Russian news sources.
Itar-Tass quotes an unnamed, high-ranking Russian military industry source as stating, “Deliveries of the Tor-M1 have begun. The first systems have already been delivered to Tehran.” The Tor-M1 is a low to medium-altitude missile fired from a tracked vehicle against airplanes, helicopters, and other airborne targets.
Itar-Tass reported that the rockets are to be deployed around Iran’s nuclear sites, including the still incomplete, Russian-built atomic power station at Bushehr. Moscow has consistently defended its arms exports to Iran. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said the contract for 29 Tor-M1 systems, signed in December last year, was legitimate because the rockets have a purely defensive role. The U.S., however, has pressed Russia to halt military sales to Iran, which Washington believes is building nuclear weapons. In August, the U.S. announced sanctions against several companies, including the major Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport, for supplying technology to Iran that could allegedly be used to develop missile technology and weapons of mass destruction. A spokesman for Rosoboronexport contacted by the AFP would not confirm or deny the reports about the Tor-M1 delivery.
(Article)
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