Putin signs decree releasing S-300 systems to Tehran

The Kremlin announced Monday that President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree lifting an embargo on the delivery of S-300 anti-missile rocket systems to Iran. The 2010 contract between Moscow and Tehran for the advanced missile system – capable of downing planes and missiles, including cruise missiles – was long suspended under pressure from the US and Israel. Now, the Kremlin claims, the embargo is no longer justified since the world powers reached an interim deal on Iran’s nuclear program. However, DEBKAfile reported four months ago, on Jan. 21, that the Kremlin had decided to unfreeze the contract and start sending the top-of-the-line anti-missile S-300 systems to Iran.