Russia delivers missiles to Iran

Published January 17, 2007

MOSCOW, Jan 16: Russia has completed delivery of TOR-M1 surface-to-air missile defence systems to Iran, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Tuesday. “We have delivered the TOR-M1 complexes to Iran,” Ivanov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying. Russia began delivering the missile systems in November last year.

Iran signed a contract with Russia in 2005 for the purchase of 29 TOR-M1 missile systems estimated to be worth $700 million.

The missiles can strike planes, helicopters and cruise missiles.

The United States has urged Russia to cancel the missile sale, which took place in the context of a tense international atmosphere surrounding Iran's controversial nuclear programme.—AFP