Iran receives the missile part of S-300 defense system from Russia

DUBAI – Reuters

In front of the portraits of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, and late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, left, a long-range, S-300 missile system is displayed by Iran's army during a parade marking National Army Day at the mausoleum of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, just outside Tehran, Iran, Sunday, April 17, 2016. AP photo

Russia has delivered the missile part of S-300 surface-to-air defense system to Iran, Tasnim news agency reported on July 18, moving to finish the delivery of all divisions of the system to Tehran by the end of this year. 

“The first shipment of missiles of S-300 missile system has recently entered Iran that shows Iran’s determination to equip its air defense circle with this system,” Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, reported. 

Russia’s agreement to provide Iran with S-300 has sparked concern in Israel, whose government Iran has said it aims to destroy. 

Russia says it cancelled a contract to deliver S-300s to Iran in 2010 under pressure from the West. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted that self-imposed ban in April 2015, after an interim agreement that paved the way for July’s full nuclear deal. 

Russia delivered the first parts of S-300, the missile tubes and radar equipment, to Iran in April. 

Iran used its annual Army Day parade on April 17 to showcase parts of the S-300 air defense system.

Iran insists the system is necessary to defend itself from threats of attack, including possible bombing of its nuclear facilities, and the S-300 would allow early detection of approaching aircraft.