The two sides have been hashing out the details of the S-300 delivery since President Vladimir Putin lifted a Russian ban on the missiles’ sale to Iran in April.
Tehran filed the suit in 2010 after then-President Dmitry Medvedev banned delivery of the S-300s to Iran under an $800 million contract signed in 2007 after Tehran came under international sanctions for its nuclear program.
In keeping with the new contract, Iran will receive a modernized version of the S-300 system, Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas said.
“It is safe to assume that this new contract is opening the door for closer and mutually-beneficial military-technical and other technological cooperation between our two countries… Once the sanctions are lifted Russia will supply Sukhoi Superjet 100 passenger jets and more bilateral contracts will soon be coming up too,” Abshenas said, adding that by signing the S-300 contract Russia had once again reasserted its reputation of a reliable partner for its friends in the Middle East.
“Unlike the US, Russia remains true to its arms delivery obligations also to Iraq and Egypt. The Americans promised to supply fifth-generation warplanes to Iraq only to back off at the last moment… That’s why Russia enjoys a hard-earned reputation of a trusty partner among our region’s arms and technology buyers,” Emad Abshenas said in conclusion.
