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Russian Defense System Sale to Iran Undermines Military Balance in Middle East

Western politicians are increasingly worried about a significant change in Russia's position regarding the possible sale of S-300 air defense missiles to Iran. [1] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin last week and asked him to annul the critical arms deal with Iran. [2]

The S-300, also called SA-20, is one of the world's most advanced air-defense systems. It is an improved version of the American Patriot battery, carried on trucks, and can locate one hundred targets simultaneously as well as intercept aircraft or cruise missiles up to a range of 196 kilometers and an altitude of 27 kilometers. [3] According to longtime Pentagon advisor Dan Goure, the purchase would effectively rule out any strike against Iran, an option Israel keeps on the table as a last resort in case negotiations over Iran's illicit nuclear program are unsuccessful. [4]

The change in Moscow's attitude toward the sale was first noticed during the visit of Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to Moscow earlier this month. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told Lieberman that Moscow had signed a contract with Iran and some payments had already been made, [5] although Israel has conditioned the sale to Russia of a dozen unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, on Moscow not selling Iran the advanced anti-aircraft missile system. [6]

The Russian-Iranian deal was signed over a year ago, and Israel has lobbied Russia to pull away from selling the system, valued at an estimated $800 million. Although the Russian government has delayed the sale, Israel has received only vague assurances. [7]

On June 17, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with Russia's chief of staff, General Nicolai Makarov, and asked that he intervene to prevent the arms sale. "Arms that will subvert the military balance in our region and which will threaten stability should not be delivered in our region," Barak said during a meeting in Paris outlining Israel's current security situation. [8]

The global economic crisis seems to define the rules of the game. Speaking of the deal, Medvedev told Lieberman, "It is a lot of money." According to a report in the Israeli daily Maariv, Medvedev has announced that if Israel wishes to prevent the sale of S-300 missiles to Iran, it must either buy them itself or work to have another country purchase them. According to Haaretz, Lieberman's response to the Russian proposal was vague. [9]

Russia's military news agency Interfax-AVN reported on Friday that Egypt already showed interest in Russia's modern S-300 and S-400 air defense systems. However, according to Ruslan Aliyev of the Russian Strategies and Technologies Analysis Center, one should not count on Egypt signing large contracts, given the economic situation. [10]

Footnotes:

[1] "Israeli drone sale blocks Russia's deal with Iran," The Washington Times, Jun 26, 2009, http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/26/israeli-drone-sale-blocks-russias-deal-with-iran/

[2] "Netanyahu to Putin: Stop selling missiles to Iran," Haaretz.com, Jun 29, 2009, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1096332.html

[3] "Medvedev : si Israël veut éviter la livraison des missiles S-300 ŕ l'Iran, il doit les acheter ou convaincre un Etat de la région le faire (Maariv)," Contre Info, Jun 26, 2009, http://contreinfo.info/breve.php3?id_breve=7163

[4] "Sleeping Russia opening eyes in ME," Pakistan Observer, Jun 25, 2009, http://pakobserver.net/200906/25/Articles04.asp

[5] "Russia, Israel play down Mideast differences," AFP, Jun 2, 2009, http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090602/wl_mideast_afp/russiaisraeldiplomacymideast_20090602144232

[6] "Israel sells UAVs to Russia, on condition," UPI.com, Jun 26, 2009, http://www.upi.com/Security_Industry/2009/06/26/Israel-sells-UAVs-to-Russia-on-condition/UPI-85331246030604/

[7] "Israel lobbies Russia on Iranian arms sales," Reuters, Apr 13, 2009, http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE53C20P20090413

[8] "Israel to Russia: No arms to Iran, Syria," UPI.com, Jun 17, 2009, http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/17/Israel-to-Russia-No-arms-to-Iran-Syria/UPI-94321245236360/

[9] "Medvedev : si Israël veut éviter la livraison des missiles S-300 ŕ l'Iran, il doit les acheter ou convaincre un Etat de la région le faire (Maariv)," Contre Info, Jun 26, 2009, http://contreinfo.info/breve.php3?id_breve=7163; "Netanyahu to Putin: Stop selling missiles to Iran," Haaretz.com, Jun 29, 2009, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1096332.html

[10] "Egypt interested in Russian S-300 & S-400," defpro.news, Jun 28, 2009, http://www.defpro.com/news/details/8325/