[FPSPACE] Russia Sends Hundreds Of AA Missiles To Iran

[JamesOberg@aol.com]

JimO: This is from the "Middle East Newsline", which monitors Israeli and 
other regional newspapers. Their scary headline would better have read, "AA 
Missiles".


Russia Sends Hundreds 
Of Missiles To Iran
http://www.menewsline.com/headline9.html
11-25-00
  
MOSCOW (MENL) - Russia has dismissed the threat of additional U.S. sanctions 
on its companies linked to Iranian missile and nonconventional programs amid 
plans to export hundreds of missiles to Teheran. 
  
The Israeli Yediot Aharonot daily reported on Friday that Russia plans to 
send 325 shoulder-fired SA-16 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran. The SA-16 is 
regarded as the most effective missile deployed in the former East Bloc and 
Israeli sources fear that they will be transported to the Hizbullah in 
Lebanon. 
  
The shipment is part of a deal to export 700 SA-16 missiles to Iran as part 
of a $1.75 billion contract. Yediot quoted U.S. sources as saying hundreds of 
missiles have been placed on a Russian train and ship for Iran. 
  
Russian officials said Moscow would not allow the United States or any other 
country to dictate its policy. At the same time, they said that Russia would 
honor nonproliferation accords. 
  
Moscow has informed the United States that it will withdraw from a 1995 
understanding that would end arms sales to Iran. The termination of the 
agreement takes effect on Dec. 1. 
  
"Russia bases its acts on close adherence to its international commitments, 
also in the case of Iran," Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev said. "We 
fulfil all international requirements on non-proliferation of weapons of mass 
destruction."