TEHRAN, Dec 26: Iran announced on Wednesday it is to receive S-300 air missile defence systems from Russia, a move that risks angering the United States which has been critical of past arms sales to Tehran.

“The S-300 system will be delivered to Iran within the framework of a contract agreed in the past,” Iranian Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar was quoted as saying by state radio, without giving the date of the contract.

“The timing of the delivery will be announced at a later date,” he added.

Earlier this year Moscow frustrated Washington by delivering to Tehran 29 TOR-M1 air defence missile systems, in a deal estimated to be worth $700 million.

Iranian state media touted the S-300 as an even more sophisticated system than the TOR-M1, saying it could hit incoming enemy targets at a greater altitude. Iran said in January it had successfully test fired the TOR-M1.

The United States had urged Russia to cancel that sale, saying it was a mistake when the UN Security Council had imposed sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile industry as part of measures against its nuclear drive.

There was no immediate official confirmation of the new delivery from Russia, but the Interfax news agency quoted a senior Russian defence source as saying Iran would receive several dozen of the systems.

“In line with the contract signed several years ago, Russia will deliver to Iran several dozen 3RS S-300PMU1 anti-aircraft systems,” the source said.

Interfax said the deliveries would begin next year.

Russia, a veto-wielding permanent UN Security Council member, has important economic interests in Tehran.

A Russian contractor is also building and supplying fuel for Iran’s first nuclear power station in the southern city of Bushehr, a much delayed project expected to be ready next year.—AFP