80 Iranian Specialists to Be Trained in Russia for S-300 System

The transfer of the S-300 missile defense system to Iran will begin in January of next year, with Russia training 80 Iranian specialists for the use of this defensive system. This report was written by the Itar-Tass news agency, citing a military-technical source. According to the report on Friday by Itar-Tass, the process of transferring part of the S-300 missile defense system will start in January 2016 and will be completed in February of the same year. The mentioned source also stated that the second part of this defense system will be transferred to Iran in the summer of next year, thus fulfilling Russia's commitments regarding the supply of S-300 to Iran. Itar-Tass also reported separately that Russia will train '80 Iranian military specialists' for the use of the S-300 system. This training, which will begin in January 2016, will take place over a four-month period at the Mozhaisky Military Engineering Academy. According to Itar-Tass, the cost of this training is part of the contract for transferring the S-300 system to Iran, and thus by May 2016, Iran will have 80 S-300 operational specialists. Earlier in early Azar (November), Vladimir Kozhin, assistant to the Russian President for military and technical affairs, stated that the contract between Iran and Russia for the delivery of these systems is 'in progress.' Russia and Iran signed a contract to purchase five S-300 systems in 2007, but in the fall of 2010, under the influence of intensified international sanctions against Iran, then-President Dmitry Medvedev suspended the sale of these systems. Consequently, the $800 million contract between the two countries was canceled. After the cancellation of this contract, the Islamic Republic filed a lawsuit against Russia in an international court and sought $4 billion in damages for breach of contract. However, in Farvardin (April) of this year, following signs of a potential nuclear agreement with Iran, Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted the ban on the sale of the S-300 system to Iran. In this context, Russia stated: 'Iran should withdraw its complaint for the S-300 contract to be executed.' Putin's assistant announced the 'beginning of the delivery' of the S-300 missile to Iran. Iran and Russia signed the delivery contract for the S-300 system. 'Iran's withdrawal' from its complaint against Russia regarding the S-300 system is seen as a step towards building trust. Lavrov stated that Russia is not concerned about U.S. sanctions regarding the S-300 contract. The Defense Minister promised the signing of a new S-300 contract between Iran and Russia. Putin's advisor mentioned that Russia is modernizing the S-300 system for Iran.