Moscow's decision to halt delivery of powerful S-300 air-defense missiles to Iran, citing the new U.N. sanctions on the Islamic Republic, may be politically convenient but it could carry a hefty cost for Russia in the Middle East.
The Kremlin has been delaying delivery of five S-300PMU batteries under a $700 million contract in 2007, largely because of U.S. and Israeli pressure.
But Russian leaders have now found a valid excuse to deny the Islamic Republic the weapons it wants to protect its nuclear facilities from attack.
That may have earned Moscow brownie points in Washington but there is no doubt a quid pro quo involved somewhere in going along with the sanctions proposed by the Americans and their European allies.
Just what that might be isn't clear but there could well be a downside for the Russians and the arms industry they are striving to bolster as a means of restoring some of Moscow's influence in the Middle East as U.S. power is seen to be ebbing.
>>>Person | About | Day |
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نسرین ستوده: زندانی روز | Dec 04 | |
Saeed Malekpour: Prisoner of the day | Lawyer says death sentence suspended | Dec 03 |
Majid Tavakoli: Prisoner of the day | Iterview with mother | Dec 02 |
احسان نراقی: جامعه شناس و نویسنده ۱۳۰۵-۱۳۹۱ | Dec 02 | |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Prisoner of the day | 46 days on hunger strike | Dec 01 |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Graffiti | In Barcelona | Nov 30 |
گوهر عشقی: مادر ستار بهشتی | Nov 30 | |
Abdollah Momeni: Prisoner of the day | Activist denied leave and family visits for 1.5 years | Nov 30 |
محمد کلالی: یکی از حمله کنندگان به سفارت ایران در برلین | Nov 29 | |
Habibollah Golparipour: Prisoner of the day | Kurdish Activist on Death Row | Nov 28 |
Oh, don't go crying now.
by پیام on Tue Jun 15, 2010 02:25 AM PDTChina might have some rusty rockets somewhere that they will be glad to sell to i.r. for the triple of the original price.