MosNews
Thursday, January 25, 2007

The U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Wednesday, Jan. 24, that a recent delivery of Russian Tor-M1 missile system to Iran may cause the United States to impose new sanctions against Russia.

The measures are likely to follow because Bush administration had harshly criticized Russia’s defense contract with Iran and urged the Kremlin to terminate it.

Washington believes that Russia should not have sold up-to-date arms to the country which refuses to meet the UN Security Council’s requirements for development of nuclear industry. The international community should review the selling of Russian systems for anti missile defense of Teheran, McCormack said.

Another diplomat from the U.S. State Department, who wished to remain anonymous, was quoted by Pravda.ru website as saying that punitive measures could be applied against the direct seller of the above-mentioned missile complexes and probably the buyer, but not the Russian government. The official did not specify whether the U.S. administration has already initiated the process connected with the Russian-Iranian arms deal.

Russia fulfilled the arms contract with Iran at the end of December 2006. The adequate announcement made by Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov raised serious concerns with the U.S. and Israeli administration. U.S. officials emphasized that Russia had sold modern weapons to the country supporting international terrorism.

Sergei Ivanov believes, though, that the contract with Iran did not violate any UN resolutions. “The contract is based on international rules. If Iran needs defensive weapons, we would be ready to assist,” the minister added. Russian news agencies reported that Tor-M1 missile complexes could be used only for defensive purposes.

When Russia signed the contract with Iran for the delivery of 29 missile complexes Tor-M1 in December 2005, the US administration said that the contract could not comply with interests of both the USA and the region. Sergei Ivanov responded that it was a legitimate deal between the two countries, no matter if someone liked it or not.