According to the Iranian news agency ISNA, Iran has successfully tested the TOR-M1 air defence missile system recently supplied by Russia. The tests were part of military exercises that began in southern Iran Wednesday after Russia completed the delivery of 29 TOR-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran in late January under a $700 million contract signed at the end of 2005. Russia's weapons supplies alarmed the United States, which imposed new sanctions on the Russian government's official arms dealer Rosoboronexport and on two other companies for the sale of TOR-M1 to the Islamic Republic. Rosoboronexport faced sanctions for arms sales to Iran and Syria twice last year. Russian authorities responded by saying the contract with Iran on TOR-M1 did not violate any international regulations and pursued purely defensive goals.
"The contract was clinched in accordance with international law. The contract is for defensive weapons, which cannot be used for offensive purposes..." - Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation.
"Armaments we export are intended exclusively for defence. This applies to Iran. These are not offensive weapons, and they neither pose any threat to neighbours nor can they destabilize the situation in the region" - Sergei Ivanov, Russia's Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
Sergei Ivanov said last week that Russia did not export weapons that could undermine stability in troubled regions. The TOR-M1, developed by the Russian company Almaz-Antei, is a high-precision missile system designed to destroy aircraft, manned or unmanned, and cruise missiles flying at an altitude of up to 10 kilometres. It was introduced at the Russian aerospace show MAKS in 2005. Each system is equipped with eight short-range missiles, associated radars, fire control systems and a battery command post.
