Kommersant: Russia Will Provide Iran with Antey 2500 Instead of S-300

The Russian newspaper Kommersant has reported, citing sources in the Kremlin, that Moscow may provide the Antey 2500 air defense system to Iran instead of the S-300, following Tehran's withdrawal from a complaint it had filed. Simultaneously, on July 1, the Russian news agency Sputnik quoted Morteza Sarmadi, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, stating that Tehran and Moscow are discussing ways for Iran to withdraw its complaint against Russia. Iran had previously filed a lawsuit against Russia in an international court for failing to deliver the S-300 system it had purchased. Dmitry Medvedev, the former President of Russia, had halted the delivery of the S-300 due to international sanctions imposed over Tehran's nuclear program. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, canceled this order following initial agreements between Iran and global powers regarding the nuclear program and increased tensions between Russia and the West. Reports about the delivery of the Antey 2500 air defense system (also known as the Almaz Antey 2500 or S-300VM) had been published earlier. In January 2014, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated that this system did not meet Iran's needs, and Tehran was still pursuing the S-300 system, although he emphasized that military experts were consulting on the matter. In February, Sergey Chemezov, head of the defense industry company Rostec, reiterated that the 2500 missiles would be delivered to Iran. Kommersant described the Antey 2500 air defense system as more advanced and newer than the S-300, parts of which have been discontinued. The Antey 2500 system was developed as a continuation of the S-300 and has been in service since 2013. Mr. Sarmadi told Sputnik that progress has been made in negotiations between Tehran and Moscow. However, there has been no mention of the delivery of the new defense system or the potential timeline for the S-300 delivery. The Russians have refrained from commenting on the timing or method of delivery following negotiations with Iranian officials. According to Morteza Sarmadi, the parties are also discussing the 'new price' of the system. The United States and Israel had expressed their opposition when the previous order for the S-300 delivery was canceled. In April, Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, stated that Russia's decision 'could jeopardize plans for the final lifting of sanctions against Iran as part of the final nuclear agreement.' Russia claims that the air defense system it intends to provide to Iran is not designed for offensive purposes and does not threaten national security. This has been a response to repeated security concerns expressed by Tel Aviv.