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Iran, Russia sign 'military-technical' accord

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, October 3, 2001

MOSCOW Ñ Iran has signed an agreement to pave the way for purchases of up to $300 million a year in Russian weaponry and is expected to soon accept delivery of a nuclear reactor.

Officials said the agreement was signed during the current visit by Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani, Middle East Newsline reported. They stressed that the accord did not specify what weapons Iran would buy from Moscow but said arms supplies could total $1.5 billion.

"I am very glad that today we have managed to sign an agreement on military-technical cooperation," Shamkhani said. "This document is not aimed against any country but is aimed at ensuring peace and stability in our region."

Russian defense analyst Ruslan Pukhov said Iran's shopping list includes the S-300 PMU1/2, which has missile interception capabilities. The list also includes portable Igla missiles and Tor-M1 systems and the Moskit and Yakhont anti-ship missiles.

The Moscow-based Itar-Tass news agency quoted Russian defense industry sources as saying that Iran seeks to deploy Russian systems along its 800 kilometer border with Afghanistan. The systems would help monitor border smuggling and infiltration.

"This agreement is no secret, it conforms to all the norms and standards of international law, and is practically identical to other documents which Russia has signed with many countries," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said.

Ivanov said the accord would allow for the continuation of arms sales talks with Iran. He stressed that this does not constitute a sales contract. Russian sources said Russia will deliver a nuclear reactor for Iran's Bushehr nuclear facility in November. The sources said the delivery will trigger new talks for the sale of an additional Russian nuclear facility to Iran.

Iran is also interested in purchasing the S-300 anti-aircraft system as well as advanced fighter-jets. The United States has opposed the sale of the S-300 to Teheran. The United States did not immediately respond to the Iranian-Russian military accord.

For his part, Shamkhani said Russia has formally ended an embargo on arms sales stipulated in a 1995 agreement between then-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and U.S. Vice President Al Gore.

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