Russia Begins Delivering Advanced Air-Defense Missile Systems To Iran

Second verse, same as the first. A little bit slower and a little bit worse.

Russia has begun delivery of Tor-M1 air defense missile systems to Iran, a Defense Ministry official said Friday, confirming that Moscow would proceed with arms deals with Tehran in spite of Western criticism.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue, declined to specify when the deliveries had been made and how many systems had been delivered.

Ministry officials have previously said Moscow would supply 29 of the sophisticated missile systems to Iran under a $700 million contract signed in December, according to Russian media reports....

Russian officials say the missiles are purely defensive weapons with a limited range.

I don't think that such systems will be very effective against US airpower, and I don't think they'd be around for too long during a serious bombardment. But as Hugh Hewitt notes, it's a pretty strong indicator that Russia is playing the same old game of client-state/proxy-war politics, and will do everything possible to make sure its lunatic satrapy continues to threaten the US. Including with nuclear weapons.

posted by Ace at 05:10 PM

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