This marked the first time that Iran has reported the delivery schedule
of the S-300 project by Russia. Senior Iranian officials and
military commanders have become vocal over Moscow's
failure to deliver the S-300, with a reported interception range of 120
kilometers.
"Russia has to fulfill the contract and not be influenced by Zionist
pressure," Firouzabadi said on Nov. 13.
Moscow has acknowledged delays in the S-300 project. The Kremlin has
reassured Teheran that the S-300 would be delivered, but did not say when.
"Don't Russian strategists realize Iran's geopolitical importance to
their security?" Firouzabadi asked.
On Nov. 11, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said Russia could be
in violation of the S-300 contract. Vahidi said Moscow and Teheran signed a
contract for the S-300, which he said has not been delivered. The contract
was said to have included penalties of up to 40 percent.
"We don't think Russian officials would want to be seen in the world as
contract violators," Vahidi said.
On Nov. 16, relations between Iran and Russia appeared further strained
when Moscow announced another delay in the Bushehr nuclear reactor project.
Officials said Iran's $1 billion reactor, built by Russia and more than five
years behind schedule, would not be ready for operations by 2010 because of
unspecified technical difficulties.
"The launch will not happen by the end of the year," Russian Energy
Minister Sergei Shmatko said.