From Associated Press, THE JERUSALEM POST , Jan. 16, 2007....
Russia's defense minister said Tuesday that Russia has sold Tor-M1 air defense missile systems to Iran. It was the first high-level confirmation that such a sale took place.
"We sent Tor-M1 missiles to Iran in accordance with the contract," Sergei Ivanov told reporters. Previous reports had cited unnamed officials reporting the sale.
Also see Jerusalem Post's Burning Issues #18: Is Russia an ally of Iran?
Ivanov did not specify how many missile systems had been delivered, but a ministry official speaking on condition of anonymity said not all the systems contracted for had been delivered.
Ministry officials have previously said Moscow would supply 29 of the sophisticated missile systems to Iran under a $700 million contract signed in December, according to Russian media reports. "If the Iranian leadership has a desire to purchase more defense weapons, we would do that," Ivanov said, without elaborating.
....Russian media have reported previously that Moscow had conducted talks on selling even more powerful long-range S-300 air defense missiles, but Russian officials have denied that.
Moscow already has a lucrative, $800 million contract to build Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, which is nearly complete.
Russia strongly supports Iran's right to nuclear energy but has joined the United States and Europe in demanding it halt enrichment to ease concerns.
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