The new U.N. sanctions prevent Russia from delivering S—300 air—defense missiles to Iran, a Kremlin official said on Friday, in a reversal of the position announced by Russia’s Foreign Ministry the day before.
The Kremlin statement was sure to please Israel and the United States, which have long urged Russia not to supply the powerful missile systems. Russia signed a deal to sell the missiles in 2007, but has delayed their delivery.
The U.N. Security Council resolution passed on Wednesday bans Iran from developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, investing in nuclear—related activities and buying certain types of heavy weapons.
The Kremlin official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the S—300 falls under these sanctions.
President Dmitry Medvedev would issue a decree specifying which types of weapons cannot now be sold to Iran, the official said.
Russia in the past has sold other air—defense missiles, aircraft and weapons to Iran.
On Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told journalists that the U.N. resolution did not apply to air—defense systems, with the exception of shoulder—fired missiles. The head of the Federal Service for Military—Technical Cooperation, which oversees arms trade, also said on Thursday that the sanctions would not affect the S—300 deal.
