Iran to Buy S-300 Missile Systems in Belarus

• 18.01.2008, 15:18

The British informational military company “Jane’s” has learnt that Belarus, not Russia, will sell S-300 systems to Iran.

Earlier reports informed about a treaty signed treaty between Russia and Iran on delivery of these air-defence systems. Experts believed that n this way Russia counteracted plans of the US to carry out a force operation in Near East.

As Radio Svaboda was informed with the reference to “Jane’s”, Teheran is at the final stage of negotiations with Minsk. S-300 systems were recently deployed near Minsk as a part of operative configuration of Belarus’ anti-missile defence.

Defence industrial sources in Belarus told Jane's that although the value of the contract has yet to be finalised, Belarusian negotiators are asking for USD140 million for the two systems (including parts, maintenance and training).

The sources noted that while that figure is considered high for older S-300PT systems (the S-300PT entered Soviet service as far back as 1978), the inflated price reflects an awareness of Iran's urgent requirement for such systems and its consequent willingness to pay well, enhanced by the intense international scrutiny placed on Tehran's efforts to acquire missile technologies and the country's difficulty to fast-track acquisition of such systems from other sources.