Iran Angered Over S-300 Delays

S-300 Missile Defense System

Tension between the Russia and Iran? A deal that was signed over five years ago, in 2005, for the delivery of S-300 missile defense systems has not been followed through on by the Russians. It seems that a combination of “technical issues” and international pressure are slowing delivery on the contract to a near halt.

Russia’s failure to deliver on the S-300 missile defense system for Iran could undermine bilateral relations with Tehran, Iranian officials said.

Both countries signed agreements in 2005 for the delivery of at least five S-300 systems to Iran, though the implementation of the contract has stagnated.

Ramin Mahmen Parast, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stressed that “all countries” involved in pending transactions with the Islamic republic should honor their commitments, Russia’s state-run news agency RIA Novosti reports.

“Failure to fulfill one’s obligations will leave a negative imprint in the memory of the Iranian public,” he said. RIA Novosti stressed that his statements were a “thinly veiled” reference to the S-300 contracts.

Czechs in Talks to Host Missile Command Center

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has become third European nation to announce that it is in talks about participation in the US missile defense plans;  joining Poland and Romania. The Czech republic would not be hosting missiles, instead it would be the home to a missile command post. This development is another step in the direction of Obama’s revised missile defense plan.

A high-level defense policy expert with ties to Washington, D.C. said the Czech Republic is in discussions with the Obama administration to host a command center for the United States’ altered missile-defense plan.

The official, who requested anonymity because discussions are ongoing, said, “The Czech Republic is not out of the picture.”

“There are strategic dialogues going on between the United States and the Czech Republic,” said Jirí Beneš, a Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman. “No concrete proposal has been mentioned yet.”