Russia Confirms Delivery Of Advanced Mobile Air Defense System To Iran

2006-12-06

Geostrategy-Direct, www.geostrategy-direct.com

MOSCOW - Russia has confirmed the export of an advanced air defense system to Iran after officials denied initial press reports of the shipment.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said his country's sale of the TOR-M1 mobile air defense system to Iran would not change the military balance in the Middle East.

"We are selling only a limited range of defensive weapons," Ivanov said. "The TOR-M1 air defense system, for example, has no influence on the balance of power in the region because it only has a range of up to 40 kilometers."

On Nov. 24, Russian news agencies quoted officials as reporting starting delivery of 29 TOR-M1 systems to Iran. On Nov. 27, the German weekly Der Spiegel quoted Ivanov as confirming the deliveries.

"Every country is allowed to deliver arms to another as long as it is not evading any sanctions in doing so," Ivanov said. "Deliveries of the Tor-M1 have begun," the Moscow-based Itar-Tass news agency quoted a Russian Defense Ministry official as saying on Nov. 24. "The first systems have already been delivered to Teheran."

Neither the Defense Ministry nor the manufacturer of the TOR, Almaz Antey, confirmed the initial report. The news agencies did not say how many systems have been sent to Iran.

"I can affirm with 100 percent certainty that nothing of the kind has happened." Nikolai Dimidyuk, delegation head of Russia's state-owned arms agency Rosoboronexport, said at the IndoDefense exhibition in Jakarta on Nov. 25.

TOR-M1 was developed for short- and medium-range detection and interception. The system was designed to down manned, unmanned aircraft and cruise missiles at a range of 12 kilometers. The system has a detection range of 40 kilometers. In 2005, Iran and Russia signed a $700-million agreement for the TOR-M1. Russian industry sources said the contract rose to $1.4 billion when Russia agreed to provide additional radars and other advanced equipment.

In early November, Moscow pledged to deliver the first TOR systems over the following weeks. Teheran had demanded the immediate delivery of the systems to protect its nuclear facilities from Israeli or U.S. air strikes.

Sources said that with the expanded TOR project, Iran has become Russia's No. 3 client, following China and India. In a separate development, the Interfax news agency reported that Russian Atomic Energy Agency Director Sergei Kiriyenko plans to visit Teheran on Dec. 11 to discuss additional cooperation.

Source: IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis