Russia Signals Delay in Tor-M1 to Iran

Middle East Newsline:

Russia has again signaled a delay in the delivery of advanced air defense systems to Iran. Officials acknowledge that Russia has delayed delivery of the TOR-M1 to Iran by several months. They said the first shipment of 29 short-range air defense batteries was to have begun in February 2006. READ MORE

"The contract to deliver the short-range TOR-M1 air defense system has been signed," Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said. "To fulfill it will take some time."

Ivanov, who is also deputy prime minister, did not say when the TOR-M1 would be delivered to Iran. In November 2005, Russia signed a $700 million contract to deliver 29 TOR-M1 air defense systems to Iran.