Russia-Iran Arms Sales To Reach 13 Billion If UN Lifts Embargo

Russia’s full-scale deal with Iran for military hardware could reach $11 to $13 billion, if the UN arms embargo is lifted, Sputnik reported Friday.

Igor Korotchenko, the head of a Russian think tank specializing in weapons sales said, the countries have great potential for development of military-technical cooperation.

According to Thursday’s nuclear energy deal reached during Iran-P5+1 talks, US and EU sanctions imposed on Iran will be suspended after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verifies that Iran is following through with the agreements.

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov added that the UN arms embargo against Iran should also be lifted. He stressed that full-scale military-technical cooperation between Moscow and Tehran would be resumed if the UN arms embargo is lifted.

According to Korotchenko, Russia could become a major supplier of military equipment to the Islamic Republic, as Tehran, planning an ambitious program of rearmament for the country's army and navy, is politically unlikely to buy weapons from Western countries.

On June 9, 2010, the UN Security Council passed a resolution implementing sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear program. Many of the sanction were military, including a ban on the sale of modern weapons to the country.

On September 22, 2010, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed an executive order enforcing the UN Security Council resolution. The document banned all military sales from Russia to Iran and included the transfer of weapons to Iran from outside the borders of Russia by aircraft or vessels operating under the Russian state flag.

In October 2011, Russia delivered a ground-based 1L222 Avtobaza radar-jamming station to Iran. This was the first officially recorded sale following the introduction of sanctions.