US State Department said that Russia�s decision to lift a ban on the sale of S-300VM anti-ballistic missile system to Iran does not violate UN Security Council-imposed sanctions on Tehran, but the United States still opposes the sale because Iran is destabilizing the Middle East.


WASHINGTON (Sputnik)�� Russia�s decision to�lift a ban on�the sale of�S-300VM anti-ballistic missile system to�Iran does not violate UN Security Council-imposed sanctions on�Tehran, but�the United States still opposes the sale because Iran is destabilizing the Middle East, US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said at�a press briefing on�Monday.

�We think, given Iran�s destabilizing actions in�the region in�places like�Yemen, Syria or Lebanon, that this is not the time to�be selling these types of�systems to�them,� Harf said. �In terms of�UN Security Council sanctions, it is my understanding that it [S-300 sale] would not [violate UN sanctions on�Iran].�

Harf noted, however, that the United States has concerns �about things separate and apart from�whether they would be a violation of�Security Council sanctions.�

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree lifting the 2010 ban on�selling the S-300VM anti-ballistic missile system, or Antey-2500, to�Iran.

The short-and-medium range missile defense system is one of�Russia�s most advanced defenses against�aircraft, cruise missile and ballistic missile attacks.

The 2010 ban cancelled a 2007 contract to�sell Iran the air-defense system in�line with�UN Security Council Resolution 1929, which bans supply to�Iran of�conventional weapons including missiles and missile systems, tanks, attack helicopters, warplanes and ships.On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia�s 2010 decision was voluntary and not based on�legal requirements of�UN sanctions. Lavrov noted the framework nuclear deal reached between�international powers and Iran has made the weapons ban unnecessary.

Russia reportedly cancelled the deal in�2010 under�pressure from�the United States and Israel, who oppose providing Iran with�advanced air defense systems that could counter Israeli or US air and ballistic missiles strikes.

On Monday, US Secretary of�State John Kerry phoned Lavrov to�convey the United States� displeasure over�the S-300 deal, the US State Department said.

Meanwhile, the White House declined to�comment on�specifics of�conversations between�the United States and Israel, but�did not rule out�officials are discussing the proposed missile sale.

Iran�s Defense Ministry and The Aerospace Industries Organization responded to�the 2010 ban by�launching a $4-billion lawsuit against�Russia�s Rosoboronexport in�an international arbitration court in�Geneva in�April 2011.

Lavrov said on�Monday that the lawsuit, which is undecided, as�well as�the loss of�revenue from�the ban, factored in�Russia�s latest decision to�sell the S-300VM to�Iran.


By Sputnik News