Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources
However, the head of the state-owned defense industry corporation, Rosoboronexport, has not ruled out any possible negotiations with Iranian officials that fall outside the U.N. Security Council’s military sanctions. "If Iran orders equipment that does not fall under the sanctions, we will negotiate. Supply of the arms from this list is out of the question," chief executive Anatoli Isaikin said.
He also disclosed that Rosoboronexport supplies arms to several Latin American countries, as it is the only Russian company allowed to export weapons, dual-use products and military-related services.
Diplomats see Rosoboronexport’s announcement as an effort to mend relations with Tehran, which has come under attack after Moscow scrapped a defense deal to deliver S-300 defense systems to the Islamic Republic.
The scrapping of the deal last month in the wake of U.N. Security Council sanctions sparked Iranian ire over the matter. Later, Moscow said it would repay $166.8 million that it had taken from Iran for the deal.
Isaikin further said that his company had been supplying arms and other services to more than 70 countries and supervises 700 Russian arms producers along with it. Its net worth is more than $60 billion.
He went on to say that Russia would export a total of $10 billion of arms this year.
Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Thursday it was ready to discuss the delivery to Iran of arms that fall outside UN sanctions.
"Rosoboronexport strictly complies with the UN Security Council's resolutions and the Russian President's decree on sanctions against Iran," Rosoboronexport head Anatoly Isaykin said. "But if we receive orders for arms that are not included in the list of sanctions, we will hold discussions on the matter."
"There is no an absolute taboo on this," he added.
In September, Moscow banned the sale of S-300 air defense systems and other arms to Tehranfollowing a fourth round of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
The contract to supply Iran with the missile system, one of most effective in existence, was signed at the end of 2007. Russia was to supply five battalions of S-300PMU-1 to Tehran, worth $800 million.
Russia is currently in talks with Tehran over compensation payments for the cancellation of the contract.
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