Wednesday 15 April 2015 - 11:18
Story Code : 160151
S-300 sales to Iran undermine Middle East stability, Netanyahu tells Putin
JERUSALEM (Sputnik) The planned delivery ofthe S-300 air defense systems toIran will undermine stability inthe Middle East and increase Tehran's belligerence, the Israeli prime minister told the Russian president ina phone conversation."Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu told President [Vladimir] Putin that this move will only increase Iran's aggression inthe region and undermine stability inthe Middle East," the Israeli government's press service said ina statement.
In response, the Russian leader reassured Netanyahu lifting the embargo onthe advanced ground-to-air missile systems' delivery toIran would not threaten Israeli security.
"Putin stressed that the S-300 missile system is purely defensive and will not pose a threat toIsrael or any other country inthe Middle East," the Kremlin press service said ina statement.
Two weeks aftersix major powers reached a landmark provisional agreement withIran onits nuclear program, Putin signed a decree allowing the resumption ofRussia's contract withIran.
Moscow undertook tosupply five battalions ofthe S-300 PMU-1 surface-to-air missiles toTehran inan $800-million contract signed in2007.Three years later, a UN Security Council resolution banning countries fromproviding arms toIran, including missile systems, forced former President Dmitry Medvedev tosuspend the system's delivery.
Netanyahu had previously lobbied the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany, known asthe P5+1, not togo ahead withthe Iranian nuclear deal, which is still subject tofinalization bythe end ofJune. Tel Aviv maintains that easing restrictions againstTehran threatens regional security.
The United States, a close Israeli ally, expressed concern withRussia's S-300 deal withIran, butreiterated the P5+1 group's unity inongoing talks overthe Islamic republic's contested nuclear program.
By Sputnik News
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