During his state visit to Russia, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is seeking to enlist increased Russian cooperation towards permitting the UN Security Council to impose crippling sanctions against Iran.

In addition, the prime minister requested that Russia hold off selling the advanced S-300 anti-aircraft system to the Iranians, a request that was met with a positive response. It is unclear just how long Russia is willing to hold off the sale.

As the prime minister was departing for Moscow on Sunday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stated he plans to honor his contract with Iran for the S-300 advanced air defense system since it does not violate the international community’s ban on Iran, explaining the system is entirely defensive.

It is obvious that such a system in the hands of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad poses another complication for the IAF or the United States in the event of a decision to move ahead with an aerial assault against Iranian nuclear facilities.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)