Iran wants Russia to deliver on defense contract

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran is urging Russia to deliver on an air-defense contract the two countries signed and ignore Israeli pressures for delaying the deal.

Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi says Moscow is under an obligation to carry out the contract to provide S-300 missiles to Tehran. His remarks were carried by the semiofficial ILNA news agency on Wednesday.

Russia signed a contract in 2007 to sell the S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Iran but hasn't made any deliveries or given an explanation for the delay. The S-300 are capable of shooting down aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missile warheads.

The U.S. and Israel oppose the deal because it would significantly boost Iran's air defense capabilities at a time of tensions over Tehran's nuclear program.