Russia will implement the contract to supply Tor-M1 air defense systems to
Iran in full, Chief of General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and First
Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Baluyevsky said in Moscow on Wednesday.
Baluyevsky made the statement after his talks with James Johns, Supreme
Commander of the United States and NATO forces in Europe.
"I'm sure this equipment is not strategic, but it is obvious that it will be
delivered in accordance with Russia's international commitments in the
nonproliferation sphere and under control by the appropriate bodies. I'm simply
sure of it," Baluyevsky was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.
Up to 30 Tor-M1 complexes are planned to be supplied to Tehran which will
defend the key state and military facilities, foremost nuclear facilities in
Isfahan, Bushehr, Tehran and in the east of the country.
The contract, worth 1.4 billion U.S. dollars, is the biggest arms deal Iran
and Russia has ever concluded.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov officially confirmed
the fact of concluding the contract on December 5, 2005.
Ivanov noted that the contract "is implemented in strictest conformity with
the Russian legislation and Russia's international commitments."
Tor-M1 is an all-weather air defense system intended for fulfilling air
defense tasks at the battalion unit level. It ensures effective protection from
cruise missiles, guided bombs, warplanes, helicopters, and pilotless and
remotely controlled attack aircraft.
