Putin Allows Export of Air Defense Missile Systems to Iran - East Idaho News
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Putin Allows Export of Air Defense Missile Systems to Iran

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Getty 041315 VladimirPutin?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1428954442190ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/AFP/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order on Monday allowing the transportation of air defense missile systems to Iran in the wake of the framework of a nuclear deal being agreed to last week.

The executive order amends a previous order by lifting a ban on the transit of S-300 air defense systems from Russia to Iran. The delivery of those missiles can begin immediately.

The U.S. has long opposed the export of such advanced systems to Iran, as they could make air-strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities more difficult.

After the framework was agreed to last week, Russia called for the lifting of weapons embargoes on Iran.

Pentagon spokesperson Col. Steve Warren said the U.S. remains against the sale of heavy arms to Iran. “Our opposition to this sale has long been public,” he said, “we believe it’s unhelpful. We are raising this through all appropriate diplomatic channels.”

“Any sale of advanced technology is cause for concern to us,” Warren added. “We’ve been very clear over the years, when this sale was first announced years ago, what our objections were then and what our objections are now.”


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