Sputnik - The Russian S-300 air defense system plays an important role in the security of the Islamic Republic, the Iranian defense minister said.




Given the threats that exist,�Iran�pays special attention to�air defense issues, according to�Iranian Defense Minister Amir hatami. Therefore, Russia's productive power was used, the defense minister said.
"The S-300 is a very powerful system and plays a very important role in�the security of�the country, and we are following�the path of�self-sufficiency after�the Islamic revolution. As for�the air defense issue, we are also moving along�this path and developing our systems for�use at�different heights," minister said in�an interview with�the TV-channel "Russia-24".


The minister stressed that Iran and Russia were developing their cooperation in�various areas of�the defense and military sectors.

In 2016, Russia delivered to�Iran a defensive anti-aircraft missile system�S-300�on�a previously concluded contract.

The $800-million Moscow-Tehran deal to�deliver Russian-made S-300 air defense systems to�Iran was initially signed in�2007, however, it had been suspended due to�the adoption of�UN Security Council sanctions on�Iran in�mid-2010. In April 2015, Russia resumed the talks on�the S-300 deliveries following�an interim agreement on�the Iranian nuclear program.

The S-300 surface-to-air missile system is one the most advanced weapons in�its class. Its development began during�the Soviet era in�the 1960s. Today, the system is produced by�Russia's Almaz-Antey defense corporation.