Tehran, Moscow Discuss Withdrawal of S-300 Lawsuit Filed Against Russia

Moscow and Tehran are in talks over withdrawing of Iran's lawsuit against Russia concerning the deliveries of S-300 air defense systems.

TEHRAN (Sputnik) – Tehran is discussing withdrawing of its lawsuit against Russia in relation to the delivery of S-300 air defense systems (NATO reporting name SA-10 Grumble) with Moscow, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hussein Jaber Ansari told Sputnik Monday.

“Currently, we are discussing the issue with Russia to achieve an agreement,” Ansari said.

He added that the second batch of the systems would be delivered to Iran before the end of the year.

“The contract for the delivery is being implemented in a proper manner; we will announce the date of the second shipment later. According to the agreement with Russia, the shipment will take place before the end of the year,” Ansari said.

In 2007, Moscow and Tehran signed a $900-million deal for the delivery of five S-300 missile systems to Iran. In 2010, Russia suspended the contract, citing a UN Security Council resolution that placed an arms embargo on Tehran until it proved the peaceful nature of its nuclear project. Tehran filed a lawsuit against Moscow over the incident in the International Court of Arbitration.

In 2015, Moscow annulled the S-300 delivery ban, after Iran and six world powers, including Russia, reached a framework nuclear deal to lift the anti-Tehran sanctions in exchange for guarantees of the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities.

On April 11, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that Russia had made the first contracted delivery of the S-300 systems as scheduled.