Iran Sanctions 'Will Not Affect' Russia Missile Deal: Lavrov

Russia has said its long-standing contract to supply surface-to-air missiles to Iran will not be affected by new UN sanctions.
Russia agreed to supply Iran with S-300 systems several years ago but has not delivered them.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed the missiles were not subject to the limits set by the UN on cooperation with Iran.

Speaking on a visit to Uzbekistan on Thursday, Mr Lavrov said: "As far as military-technical cooperation is concerned, the resolution introduces limits to cooperation with Iran on offensive weapons and defensive weapons do not fall under these limits."

Mr Lavrov said Moscow was in talks on building nuclear reactors in Iran in addition to the Bushehr site, due to open in August after years of delay. "We are practically discussing this now," he told Reuters news agency.

The US and Israel are concerned the S-300 missiles, designed to counter both aircraft and cruise missiles, might be used to protect Iran's nuclear facilities from possible attack.

The UN Security Council voted on Wednesday to impose a fourth round of sanctions on Tehran for failing to halt its nuclear enrichment programme. Iran insists it wants only atomic energy but a number of Western countries suspect it of trying to build nuclear weapons.

The measures were passed after being watered down during negotiations with Russia and China. Russian officials pointed out on Thursday that the new UN Security Council resolution affected only "missiles or missile systems as defined for the purpose of the UN Register of Conventional Arms."

The White House said it welcomed the fact that Russia had, "up to this point", shown "restraint" in not delivering the S-300 to Iran.

"Russia has exercised responsibility, restraint and has not delivered those missiles to Iran," state department spokesman Philip Crowley was quoted as saying by AFP.