Russia denies Belarus-Iran missile transfer

ISN SECURITY WATCH (Tuesday, 18 April 2006: 12.39 CET) – The Russian Defense Ministry has denied reports circulating in the US media that Belarus could transfer Russian-supplied S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran.

The Russian Defense Ministry on Monday said four battalions of S-300 PMU2 Favorite missile systems would be supplied to Belarus this year in accordance with an agreement to merge the two countries' air defenses, but denied that the missile systems could be transferred to Iran, Russia's RIA Novosti reported.

"Under the current [Joint Air Defense Group of the Union State] agreement, missile systems cannot be supplied to third countries," the news agency quoted the defense ministry as saying.

"The information published in certain US media alleging that the S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems which Russia supplies to Belarus will be re-exported to Iran in the future does not correspond to reality," news agencies quoted the Russian Defense Ministry as saying in a statement on Monday.

Earlier this month, Russia began supplying the anti-aircraft missile systems to Belarus in accordance with that agreement.

The S-300 system can hit targets at a range of 20 meters to 45 kilometers. It can engage six targets simultaneously and is expected to be deployed in June.