Gulf states alarmed by Russia-Iran alliance

ABU DHABI — Russia is trying to allay concerns by Gulf Arab states that Moscow's relations with Iran threaten the region.

Of particular concern is an agreement to sell Teheran Russia's S-300 anti-aircraft system which defense sources here say could disrupt cooperative defense efforts by the Gulf states.

Russia is offering its S-300 anti-aircraft system, which China has deployed on it coast, as a means of defending against enemy ballistic missiles.

Russian officials said the S-300 has been touted as superior to U.S. anti-missile systems such as the PAC-3. Moscow is trying to sell the S-300 to both Iran and Syria.

Russia is also prepared to deploy the S-300 as part of a proposed European ballistic missile defense system. Officials said this would be an alternative to the controversial national missile defense system being developed by the United States.

"Russia has testing areas, research centers and testing facilities," Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev said. He told a news conference last week that the S-300 is mobile and can be deployed as part of a European system independent of the United States.

Russian defense officials have stressed that Moscow's growing military ties with Iran will focus on defensive weapons and honor international nonproliferation agreements. This means, they said, that Moscow will not sell Iran long-range missiles or weapons of mass destruction.

The officials also asserted that the visit by Iranian President Mohammed Khatami last week did not result in new military contracts. They said Khatami focused on civilian issues.

"We will supply Iran with defensive weapons and we will ensure that there is no harm to these [Arab] countries," Russian Deputy Defense Minister Mikhail Dmitriev said. "We understand that this [Iranian-Russian cooperation] is not merely a military issue but a political one as well."

Dmitriev is heading a Russian arms delegation during the International Defence Exhibition, IDEX 2001, now being held in Abu Dhabi. Russia is seeking to expand a 1994 military cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates.

But Gulf defense sources said Russia has agreed to sell Iran the S-300 anti-aircraft system. They said such a system would disrupt Gulf defense cooperation and could torpedo regional air exercises.

Russian officials acknowledge that they are competing with former republics of the former Soviet Union for weapons upgrades and procurement. These include Belarus and the Ukraine.

The officials are warning Arab militaries that Russian manufacturers will take no responsiblity for any damage done in upgrades of their systems conducted by their competitors.

"No Russian manufacturer will guarantee the safey of systems modernized by a foreign country," Aleksandr Nozdrachev, a Russian defense industrial official said.

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