Russian Firm Denies Weapons Sales to Iran, Syria
MOSCOW - Russia's arms-export monopoly denied Israeli claims Oct. 6 that it plans to deliver S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Iran or Syria, the Interfax news agency reported.
"We have no information of this kind," a spokesman for Rosoboronexport said when asked about potential sales of the sophisticated anti-aircraft weapons to Tehran or Damascus.
The denial came as outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was due to arrive in Russia for a two-day visit in which concerns over Iran are expected to top the Israeli agenda.
His defense minister, Ehud Barak, urged Russia on Oct. 5 not to upset the strategic balance in the Middle East with arms sales to Muslim countries.
Israeli media say the Jewish state is concerned by the possible sale of S-300s to Tehran, which could use them to foil Israeli or U.S. airstrikes against sites linked to Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program.
The S-300 missile, called the SA-10 in the west, has a range of 150 kilometers (90 miles) and is capable of striking a plane up to 30 kilometers (18 miles) high.
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