Russia says missile delivery to Iran delayed

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

MOSCOW — The delivery of advanced Russian-made S-300 air defence missiles to Iran has been delayed for technical reasons, a senior Russian official told the Interfax news agency on Wednesday.

"The delay is due to technical problems. The delivery will be carried out when they are resolved," Alexander Fomin, deputy head of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, was quoted as saying.

Russia's contract to sell the S-300s to Iran has raised hackles in the United States and Israel, which believe that Tehran could use the sophisticated air defence missiles to defend its nuclear facilities against attack.

Western powers suspect that Iran is seeking to build an atomic bomb under the guise of its civilian nuclear energy programme, although Tehran says the programme is peaceful in nature.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5igbfOLXp02XMK7ghdxIYL_guXqWQ

[damyank913]

1. I think the Russians are hoping someone will take out those nuclear facilities...

before they deliver those missiles. They know there is no benefit to them for having a nuclear capable Iran sitting on their border.

[Socal31]

2. The problem is that Russia could be doing a lot more to stop them from acquiring the weapons.

[yava]

5. but Russia has Chechnia, the Ingush and many other regions

where Iran has been holding back.

[Rapier09]

3. Russia will sell these missiles

Unlikely that either Israel or Russia will move against Iran anytime soon.

[Socal31]

4. There are a couple dead North Korean scientists that would bet against that...