Israel is seeking to persuade Washington to amend the list of sanctions that will hopefully be placed on Iran, seeking to include a ban on Russia selling the S-300 ground-to-air ballistic anti-aircraft system. The system in Iranian hands would drastically shift the current balance of power, making an IAF assault against Iranian nuclear facilities significantly more complicated, but air force officials in recent months have told the media there are solutions to the S-300 reality as well.
Russia signed an $800 million deal with Iran in 2005 but the system has not yet been delivered. The deal has been on hold, not canceled, Russian officials have recently explained.
Israel is working via diplomatic channels to ensure the current status quo does not change, seeking America’s assistance in preventing Iran from getting its hands on the new anti-aircraft system.
The New York Times recently reported however that the White House has made concession to Russia, two to be exact, “lifting sanctions against the Russian military complex and agreeing not to ban the sale of Russian anti-aircraft batteries to Tehran”, not exactly welcome news in Yerushalayim.
The Times points out that the weapons system in Iranian hands would help Iran shoot down “American or Israeli warplanes should either try to bomb its nuclear facilities”.
It appears that US President Barak Obama’s desire to establish a “fresh partnership” with Russia sits higher on the White House’s priority list than halting the sale of the weapons system to Iran, perhaps signaling a significant shift in White House policy under the current administration vis-à-vis Israel.
Minister of Intelligence & Atomic Energy Dan Meridor expressed his hope that the required sanctions against Iran will be approved to avoid granting Tehran another victory. He explained the threat is not only directly from Iran, but via Hizbullah and Hamas too.
“Each day of enrichment is a day closer to the bomb. The clock is ticking so we must take the sanctions seriously. I believe significant sanctions will produce results. The Iranians are monitoring the strength of the international community and the United States’ position. If Iran does obtain a nuclear weapon, this will have far reaching implications” the minister stated.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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One Response
Who are they trying to fool, pretending they don’t know the sale of a complete S-300 system to Iran was the *price* Mrs. Clinton paid to the Russians to be allowed to have their “agreement” to that utterly worthless piece of paper she calls a “sanctions draft”, which won’t have any practical effects even if it’s ever put to a vote?