Iran prepares for major defense pact with Moscow

NICOSIA — Iran concluded a military exercise in the Gulf yesterday a week before Iranian President Mohammed Khatami is scheduled to arrive in Moscow.

Diplomatic sources said Khatami's visit, beginning on March 12, is expected to pave the way for huge arms deals with Russia. Khatami will be accompanied by a 100-member delegation and could sign a defense treaty.

Russian sources said Iran is considering buying diesel-powered submarines, fighter-jets and anti-aircraft systems. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov said defense issues would be part of a strategic alliance between Moscow and Teheran. "It is a large and multifaceted question," Klebanov said. "It cannot be just a matter of a military-technical cooperation pact. You have to address the entire range of our bilateral relations."

The Victory-9 exercise combined army, air force and marine units. The maneuvers began on Saturday in the northern end of the Gulf at Mahshahr. The exercise included the military as well as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Among the systems tested were communications equipment as well as Iranian-produced missiles. The exercise was also meant to examine logistics capability. Frigates and patrol boats were deployed.

Brig. Gen. Jaber Mahdyar was quoted by the official Islamic Republic News Agency as saying that more than 6,000 soldiers were participating in the war games. Mahdyar said the exercise aimed to demonstrate Iran's defense capability as well as the application of new weaponry deployed in the military.

On Sunday, Teheran radio reported that the exercise employed advanced systems to destroy enemy forces. The radio said the second stage of the operation has been launched. No other details were given.