May 25, 2010 :: Washington Post :: News
As of Friday, sanctions on some Russian arms exporters involved in prohibited sales to the Middle East in 2006 and 2008 have been lifted. Such moves appear to be concessions to Russia in order to secure Security Council sanctions against Iran; negotiations have been underway in recent weeks and a draft resolution to come out of the Security Council was agreed to in the middle of last week. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley indicated that the lifting of sanctions had more to do with tighter export controls in Russia than any trade off reached during negotiations about sanctioning Iran over its nuclear program.
Additionally, a loophole in the missile proliferation prohibition section of the Security Council's draft resolution allows Russia to complete delivery on a 2005 purchase by Iran of five S-300 missile systems. The S-300 (known to NATO in various iterations as the SA-10 'Grumble' or the SA-20 'Gargoyle') is a short-range, solid-fueled, surface-to-air defensive missile. While it is most effective against enemy aircraft, it is also capable of intercepting short-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. (Article)
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble)
