Russia lifts veto on missile sales to Iran.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday paved the way for a long-delayed shipment of missile systems to Iran, and Moscow launched an oil-for-goods swap program with Tehran, demonstrating the Kremlin's determination to strengthen economic ties with the Islamic Republic.
Reuters - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday paved the way for a long-delayed shipment of missile systems to Iran, and Moscow launched an oil-for-goods swap program with Tehran, demonstrating the Kremlin's determination to strengthen economic ties with the Islamic Republic.
These measures come shortly after world powers, including Russia, reached a provisional agreement with Iran to curb its nuclear program, and signal that Moscow may have a head start in the race to benefit from a possible lifting of sanctions imposed on Tehran.
The Kremlin declared that Putin signed a decree canceling a Russian ban on the delivery of S-300 anti-missile rocket systems to Iran, removing a point of contention between the two countries that arose after Moscow canceled a corresponding contract in 2010 due to Western pressure.
A senior government official separately said that Russia has begun supplying grain, equipment, and construction materials to Iran in exchange for oil, as part of a barter agreement.
More than a year ago, sources told Reuters that a deal worth more than $20 billion was being discussed with Tehran, which would involve Russia buying 500 barrels of Iranian oil per day in exchange for equipment and goods from Russia.
Since then, officials from both countries have issued conflicting statements regarding the signing of an agreement for the exchange of goods and services, but Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has hinted that an agreement is already being implemented.
"I wanted to draw your attention to the unfolding of the oil-for-commodities agreement, which is of a very significant scale," Ryabkov stated at a meeting with members of the lower house of Parliament regarding talks with Iran.
"In exchange for shipments of Iranian oil, we are delivering certain products. This is not prohibited or limited by the current sanctions regime," he added.
He declined to give further details. The Russian Ministry of Agriculture also declined to comment, and the Energy Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Iran has not commented on the matter.
Russia hopes to reap economic and commercial benefits if a definitive agreement is reached as a result of the draft agreement reached earlier this month by Iran and the so-called P5+1: the United States, Germany, France, Great Britain, Russia, and China.
The parties have until the end of June to outline a detailed technical agreement, under which Iran will curb its nuclear activities and allow international monitoring in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Tehran has denied that its atomic program aims to build nuclear weapons.