Iran and Russia in $10 Billion Military Negotiations

Victor Ozyorov, head of the Defense and Security Committee of the Federation Council of Russia, announced on Monday, November 15, that Russia and Iran are negotiating a $10 billion military contract. According to a report by Reuters citing RIA Novosti, Ozyorov stated that under this contract, Russia will send T-90 tanks, artillery equipment, aircraft, and helicopters to Iran. The military negotiations between the two countries come at a time when UN Security Council Resolution 2231 has established a framework for Iran's military interactions with other countries regarding the supply, sale, or direct or indirect transfer of any military technology or related financing and training. The topic of the $10 billion military contract was raised by the head of the Defense and Security Committee of the Federation Council of Russia, while Levon Jagarian, the Russian ambassador in Tehran, said last Thursday that if the Iranian government requests the S-400 missile system, 'the Russian government will carefully pursue it.' According to ISNA, Jagarian noted that Russia has fulfilled its commitments to deliver the S-300 missile system. Tehran signed a contract with Moscow in 2007 to purchase the S-300 missile system, but its delivery to Iran was delayed due to international sanctions until the signing of the Vienna nuclear agreement last year. However, Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, allowed the delivery of this missile system to Iran after this agreement. Iran and Russia's military cooperation has not only been in the field of armaments. In recent months, Russian military aircraft have used the Nojeh Air Base in Hamadan to attack positions and bases of the Islamic State group in Syria. This has drawn criticism from the United States, but Russia rejected this criticism. Meanwhile, according to Interfax, Valentina Matviyenko, head of the Federation Council of Russia, said on Monday in Tehran that Iran is interested in dialogue with Russia regarding military-technical cooperation. She also stated that Russia will consider international resolutions in this regard.