Visit to Iran is first by Russian Defense Minister since '79

NICOSIA — Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev is on his way to Iran to work out huge weapons contracts.

Sergeyev will arrive in Teheran on Tuesday for a three-day visit. Iranian officials said the minister — in the first visit by a Russian defense minister to Teheran since the 1979 Islamic revolution — will tour military installations.

"Apart from talks with top officials from the Islamic republic, Mr. Sergeyev will visit several military centers," Iranian Defense Ministry spokesman Kayvan Khosravi said. "The purpose of the visit is to examine ways of developing and increasing Iranian-Russian cooperation at the regional and international level." Russian officials said Sergeyev would not sign any contracts during his visit to Iran. They said this could take place when Iranian President Mohammed Khatami visits Moscow next year. The United States has urged Moscow not to sign new arms contracts with Teheran. U.S. officials said Iran pledged in 1995 not to continue weapons deliveries to Iran after the end of 1999.

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