Russian arms sale to Iran without approval would violate ban

Russia and Iran had signed a contract for the supply of five battalions of S-300 launchers back in 2007, but in the autumn of 2010 the then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev banned the deal.

Spokesman Mark Toner said UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which supports the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, prohibits “specified categories of conventional arms” to Iran without Security Council approval, but also covers “combat aircraft” which includes the Russian developed Sukhoi-30 multi-role fighter jets.

Iran’s defense minister said last week that the Islamic Republic would purchase an unspecified number of the Russian planes.

Iran’s Hossein Dehghan and Shoigu spoke about “the necessary measures for the progressive development” of their military cooperation, based on the accord signed in January between Tehran and Moscow, the statement said. The reports claimed that Iranian Defence Minister was expected to be present at the ceremony.

But Iran has nonetheless conducted at least two ballistic missile tests since the deal was clinched in July 2015.

Illustrative photo of a Russian S-300 air defense missile.

The consent must be given “in advance on a case-by-case basis”. Iran’s rivals in the Middle East are anxious by the windfall. The planes are comparable to American F-15E fighter bombers.

There are also multiple and conflicting reports over when Iran is due to receive S-300 missile systems from Russia, with rumors that they were to arrive at the end of this week being quashed by a Russian Defense Ministry official who said Iran had not yet paid for the goods.

Unlike the fighter jets, however, the S-300 is defensive and not covered by any United Nations prohibition.