Russia to Sell Arms to Iran After Sanctions Lifted?

Date: 18 November 2019 - 21:40

News ID: ۷۲۸۶۰

MOSCOW (Dispatches) -- Russia is ready to deliver weapons to Iran but only after sanctions are lifted, the head of the Federal Service of Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev said on Monday.
"The Russian side is ready to discuss with Iran cooperation in the sphere of arms sales on condition that practical implementation of the projects ... starts only after international restrictions are lifted," Shugayev said at the Dubai Airshow.
According to him, Iran may be interested in Russian fighters, helicopters, tanks, ships, coastal missile systems, aircraft engines and spare parts for repairing aircraft, armored vehicles and submarines.
Meanwhile, Russia continues delivering to Iran non-offensive weapons, which is not restricted by the United Nations' sanctions, Shugayev stressed.
"We continue fulfilling contracts that do not fall under the UN sanctions, on delivering repair and diagnostic equipment, radio monitoring tools, radio reconnaissance systems and other kinds of non-offensive weapons," Shugayev specified.
Iran has been hit by UN sanctions, including those targeting the defense sector, since the mid-2000s. Restrictions were partially lifted in 2015 after Iran started cooperating with the global community on its nuclear program. However, the ban on offensive weapon deliveries to Iran will remain active until October 2020.
Over the past years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing military equipment and hardware despite sanctions and economic pressures on the country.
The Islamic Republic maintains that its military power poses no threat to other countries and is based on its military doctrine of deterrence.
Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami last week stressed the importance of making more efforts to bolster the country's development in various fields, saying boosting defense capabilities is the only viable option to counter the U.S. sanctions.