Russia has begun deliveries of its advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran, presidential aide Vladimir Kozhin was quoted by the state-run TASS news agency as saying Thursday.
“The contract is in action … it has begun,” said Kozhin, who advises President Vladimir Putin on military-industrial trade with foreign nations.
The head of Russian defense and technology holding Rostec, Sergey Chemezov, said in early November that the contract had been signed, but did not specify when deliveries would begin.
Putin in April lifted a presidential ban on the delivery of S-300 missile systems to Iran, which was put in place by then-President Dmitry Medvedev in 2010 after the United Nations imposed sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program.
Iran filed a lawsuit against Russian state arms export agency Rosoboronexport in 2010 for violating its $800 million contract for several S-300 units. The new contract stipulates that Iran will withdraw its suit after the first stage of the contract is fulfilled.
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