“I want to say that we have no problems with Iran. We cooperate with that country, it is our major partner,” Deputy Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told Russia 24 channel.
The comments come amid a dispute between Iran and Russia over the latter’s failure to fulfill contract commitments regarding the delivery of S-300 systems to the Islamic Republic.
Under a contract signed in 2007, Russia undertook to provide Iran with at least five S-300 missile defense systems.
However, Moscow refused to deliver the systems to Iran under the pretext that they were covered by the fourth round of the UN Security Council resolutions against Iran. In September 2010, then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree banning the delivery of the S-300 systems to the Islamic Republic.
After Russia broke the contract, Iran filed a complaint against Russian arms export company Rosoboronexport with the International Court of Arbitration in Geneva.
Rogozin added, “We observe our international obligations strictly. We assumed these obligations in the Security Council and we will follow them.”
“I hope that nothing will complicate our cooperation,” the deputy Russian prime minister said, adding that Moscow wanted to have friendly relations with Iran.
On May 30, Russian Technologies (Rostech) CEO Sergei Chemezov said that Moscow sought to reach a settlement with Tehran to have Iran withdraw its lawsuit against Rosoboronexport over the deal on S-300 as Russia’s chances to win the case “are very slim.”
