Iranian Television Shows Images of 'Complete S-300 System' at Fordow Facilities

Iran's state television has shown images purportedly of the 'complete S-300 air defense system' made by Russia, located around the 'Fordow nuclear facilities', stating that it has entered Iran despite all efforts to prevent its arrival. The broadcast of these images coincides with a meeting of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran with commanders and officials of the Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Headquarters; Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described opposition to the acquisition of the S-300 system or the protected Fordow facilities as 'examples of the enemy's malice' and stated: 'The S-300 system is a defensive tool, not an offensive one, but the Americans did everything they could to prevent the Islamic Republic from having this capability.' The report from state television does not clarify whether this system is permanently stationed there or was merely sent for display. The Fars news agency claims that this system was 'displayed on the anniversary of the establishment of the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters.' Previously, images of various parts of the S-300 system had been shown on different occasions, but Fars states that in the news report, 'this system was shown along with launchers in an operational maneuver state.' The broadcast on Iran's Channel One does not show clear images of the full operation of the S-300 during a possible exercise. Farzad Esmaeili, commander of the Army's Air Defense Headquarters, told Iranian television that defensive exercises at nuclear sites are conducted far more than in other areas. He added, 'You see that this system (the S-300 air defense system) is not deployed, but the sky of Iran has become the safest sky.' The S-300 air defense system, which Iran purchased years ago from Russia, did not enter Iran due to extensive international sanctions. Following the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the cancellation of the previous ban on the delivery of the system. Iranian defense officials have also recently unveiled another air defense system, reportedly 'made in Iran', called 'Bavar 373'. The commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Headquarters stated in 2014 that 'Bavar 373 is intended to replace the S-300.' A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department stated in May that Washington has repeatedly expressed its opposition to Moscow regarding the transfer of the S-300 missile defense system to Iran, but this issue does not violate Resolution 2231 or the nuclear agreement. The Fordow facilities, around which the Russian defense system has reportedly been displayed, are considered sensitive nuclear facilities in Iran and major centers for Iran's centrifuge activities. In these facilities, uranium enriched to 20 percent was produced; uranium that Iran and six world powers agreed to oxidize and dilute. The West was concerned that highly enriched uranium could be used to produce nuclear weapons. Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran committed to completely halt its nuclear activities that could lead to the production of a nuclear bomb. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic has referred to the Fordow facilities on various occasions and accused the United States of failing to fulfill its commitments despite the cessation of '20 percent enrichment, Fordow, and Arak.' The U.S. has denied the accusation of non-compliance with the JCPOA. Barack Obama, the former U.S. President, stated that the United States and world powers 'have fulfilled all their commitments to lift sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program.' Despite the lifting of nuclear sanctions, Iran remains under separate sanctions due to allegations of human rights violations, ballistic missile development, and 'state-sponsored terrorism', primarily imposed by Washington and, in some cases, by the European Union.