Russia says it will step up the sale of weapons to Iran as soon as the international sanctions against the country are dropped.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, at a joint news conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Moscow on Monday August 17, confirmed discussions have been held about delivering the S-300 missile system to Iran as well as new contracts to build nuclear power plants in Iran.
Iran and Russia signed an agreement for the purchase of the S-300 missile system in 2007, but Russia has not delivered it to Iran due to the sanctions laid against the country. With the prospect of all international sanctions against Iran being dropped, there is talk of delivering on the agreement.
In its most recent statement, Russian officials stated that the S-300 missiles they deliver to Iran will have been updated with modifications.
Russian media also report that Lavrov and Zarif discussed possible new initiatives to resolve the Syrian conflict.
IRNA also reported on Zarif’s trip to Russia, saying that according to the Iranian foreign ministry, the volume of trade between Iran and Russia increased by five percent in 2014, reaching 1.7 billion dollars.
