Russia's Newest Gambit - Missles to Iran

The Times On Line (UK) reporter in Moscow, Tony Halpin has reported that Russia has announced plan to sell additional military equipment to Iran.  Once again ratcheting up the tension with the US and the West, by moving another pawn down board.  

1. Invasion of Georgia
2. Recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia
3. Sending Bomber to 'visit' Chavez
4. Signing mutual defense agreements with S. Ossetia and Abkhazia
5. Signing contracts with Iran for S-300 surface to air missiles, adding on to the 29 Tor -M1 Missiles they've already delivered
6. Negotiating with Venezuela for missile defense systems, SU-35 jets, and other military hardware.

So far, NATO has done nothing but lose pawns; Georgia's two breakaway provinces. But this will continue until a strong and united front is formed among the NATO to 'persuade' Putin that his chess game is over.

Russia snubbed its nose at the United States today by announcing plans to sell military equipment to both Iran and Venezuela.

The head of the state arms exporter said that Russia was negotiating to sell new anti-aircraft systems to Iran despite American objections.

"Contacts between our countries are continuing and we do not see any reason to suspend them," Anatoly Isaikin, general director of Rosoboronexport, told Ria-Novosti at an arms fair in South Africa.

Reports have circulated for some time that Russia is preparing to sell its S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Iran, offering greater protection against a possible US or Israeli attack on the Islamic republic's nuclear facilities. The missiles have a range of more than 150 kilometres and can intercept jets approaching at low altitudes.

Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies in Moscow, said that it was logical to conclude a lucrative contract with Iran "in the current situation, when the US and the West in general are stubbornly gearing toward a confrontation with Russia".

Russia has already delivered 29 Tor-M1 missile systems under a $700 million deal with Iran in 2005.

Sergei Chemezov, the head of state-owned Russian Technologies also disclosed that Venezuela's leader Hugo Chavez wanted to buy anti-aircraft systems, armoured personnel carriers, and new SU-35 fighter jets when they come into production in 2010.

US plans to site an anti-missile shield in eastern Europe to deter surprise attacks from Iran have outraged Russia, which believes the system in Poland and the Czech Republic is aimed at weakening its defences.  MORE....