After Russian FM says S-300 to protect Iran from Yemen fallout, Russian Dpty
FM says not supplying soon
Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA 24 April 2015
#1. "The developments in Yemen and the rest of the region point to huge
risks. We don’t want Iran to become another target for the illegitimate use
of force. "
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s live radio interview with Sputnik, Ekho
Moskvy and Govorit Moskva, Moscow, April 22, 2015
THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION official site
792-22-04-2015
http://www.mid.ru/bdomp/Brp_4.nsf/arh/0BCA9A90832725FC43257E3000210820?OpenDocument
...
Question: Please explain something for me. The S-300 missile systems, the
delivery of which we have decided to resume to Iran because this is not
prohibited by sanctions, and the global BMD system are both air defence
systems. However, Russia claims that the S-300 is a defence system that won’t
complicate the situation in the region, but that the BMD system, which is a
defence system, is complicating the global situation. It sounds like two
different systems of logic. Are they both defence systems, or is only one of
them a defence system?
Sergey Lavrov: No, the logic is the same in both cases. First, the S-300
cannot be used for protection against nuclear weapons. The BMD system is
designed for protection against strategic weapons, offensive nuclear
weapons.
The S-300 is only good for protection against non-strategic missiles,
against air strikes. BMD is quite another matter; it concerns the
capabilities of strategic nuclear deterrence forces. This is why we are
closely monitoring what the Americans are doing. We have clearly explained
the political aspects of our position; on the practical side, we are taking
the necessary measures to prevent the BMD system from disrupting strategic
balance and parity.
Question: Will the potential deliveries of the S-300 – as far as I know, the
delivery schedule has not been coordinated yet – exacerbate the situation
and change the balance of forces in the region?
Sergey Lavrov: What do you mean by “exacerbate”? That those who want to
deliver a strike at Iran will have to think at least twice before doing it?
Question: And will also supply drones to Ukraine? I’m referring to Israel.
Sergey Lavrov: I don’t know anything about Israel’s plans to supply drones
to Ukraine.
Question: Is this speculation?
Sergey Lavrov: There have long been speculations on this issue, but no
evidence.
As for the S-300, President Obama’s initial reaction was quite unusual. He
said he was surprised the ban held this long, since 2009, that we could have
delivered these weapons earlier. He then said that we suspended the delivery
at the US’ request, but he still didn’t think that the ban would hold for
five years. But yesterday he said a completely different thing. He said they
object to the talks on the deal. So much for whom to trust and how to deal
with our American partners, who keep zigzagging and changing their minds.
We are in the right, and we haven’t violated anything. In the past, we did
it (suspended the delivery) to encourage Iran to take a more constructive
stand at the talks, and it worked – we have reached an important stage at
the talks, we have coordinated the political framework for a settlement,
which is now being translated into practical agreements. The developments in
Yemen and the rest of the region point to huge risks. We don’t want Iran to
become another target for the illegitimate use of force.
#2. Ryabkov says Iran won't get S-300 in the near future
23 April 2015 - 4:32pm
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/69990.html
The delivery of S-300 air defense systems to Iran is not happen in the near
future, Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said.
"I do not think that it is a matter for near future. It is far more
important that a political and legal decision has been taken to open up such
an opportunity," TASS cited him as saying.
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