Iran in talks with Russia over S-400, Pantsir Purchase

Iran is trying to get its hands on S-400 and Pantsir air defense systems from Russia, with the two parties currently holding negotiations.

A source from state-owned Rosoboronexport reportedly revealed during the ongoing Army-2020 Forum that Tehran is looking to soon place a mega order for four S-400 surface-to-air missile batteries, besides acquiring 40 Tor-M2 and Pantsir systems.

The deal, however, is subject to lifting of UN arms embargo on Iran. The United States has been vehemently opposing nixing of the weapons ban, that was to be lifted five years after the Iran nuclear deal took effect in 2015.

“If the UN Arms Embargo on Iran expires on October 18, Iran will be able to buy new fighter aircraft like Russia’s Su-30 and China’s J-10. With these highly lethal aircraft, Europe and Asia could be in Iran’s crosshairs. The US will never let this happen,” US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo tweeted in June.

Last Thursday, 13 of the 15 United Nations Security Council (UNSC) members refused to recognize the legality of a US maneuver to abolish the Iran deal by triggering a formal process that would snap back UNSC sanctions against Tehran by September 19.

“Our message is very, very simple: the United States will never allow the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism to freely buy and sell planes, tanks, missiles and other kinds of conventional weapons. These UN sanctions will continue the arms embargo,” Pompeo told reporters last week.