Russia cancels arms deal with Iran
By DPA, IANSWednesday, September 22, 2010
MOSCOW - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev cancelled a planned arms deal with Iran because of the UN sanctions against the country, the Kremlin announced late Wednesday.
The presidential decree forbade the transfer of tanks, artillery, war ships, helicopters and missile defence systems to Iran. Tehran had ordered the missile defence system S-300 two years ago.
The announcement concludes a long period of uncertainty about the proper implementation of the sanctions in Russian political circles.
A Kremlin official had already said in June that Russia would not deliver the weapons, since the sale was in conflict with the UN resolution with which Russia, a veto power, had agreed.
The international community suspects Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear technology is only being used for civilian purposes.
