|
EU nations compete for Iranian arms deals
|
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, September 7, 2001
MOSCOW Ñ The European Union is said to have entered the competition
to win lucrative Iranian military contracts.
Russian industry sources said Iran is discussing the purchase of
advanced defense systems and weapons from a range of suppliers. They
included such EU giants as France and Germany. Other countries in the
competition are cited China, Pakistan, North Korea and South Korea.
The assertion of EU competition for Iran's weapons projects came on the
eve of a visit to Moscow by Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani. Shamkani
is expected to arrive on Wednesday for a four-day visit and complete an
agreement on the purchase of up to $1.5 billion of Russian systems.
The sources said Moscow plans to complete a weapons deal with Shamkhani
that will amount to annual sales of up to $300 million over the next five
years. They said Iran has already been besieged by offers from both EU and
other countries.
Mikhail Dmitriev, who heads the Russian Defense Ministry's Committee for
Military and Technical Cooperation, said Moscow has offered Iran MiG-29
fighter-jets, Su-24 bombers, Kilo-class submarines and the S-200
anti-aircraft system.
At the same time, Dmitriev said, France has offered Iran Mirage jets.
Germany has promoted its tanks and submarines. China, South and North Korea
and Pakistan offered systems.
"Even the Americans through privately-owned firms are selling the
missile cryogenic engines to Teheran," Dmitriev said.
European industry sources did not confirm Dmitriev's assertion. But they
said companies in Britain, France and Germany have been clamoring to sell
Teheran dual-use components that can be used in Iranian military aircraft
programs.
Moscow has been under pressure by the United States to honor a 1995
agreement to end weapons sales to Teheran. Russia has insisted that it will
sell Iran defensive systems as well as weapons upgrades.
Industry sources said Shamkhani is certain to submit a shopping list
that will include the S-300PMU-1 and S-300PMU-2 anti-aircraft systems. The
S-300 is said to have missile interception capabilities and Iran intends to
use these systems to defend the Bushehr nuclear facility.
| 
