Iran and Russia to hold defence talks
The 6th International Military-Technical Forum organised by the Russian Defence Ministry will conclude today.
The “Army-2020” expedition, the largest annual event for the Russian defence industry, has showcased Russia’s latest high-tech military technologies to the world. Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami was one of the most important attendees. The current arms embargo imposed on Iran by the United Nations Security Council is slated to expire in October 2020, as US efforts to secure its extension so far have proved unsuccessful. Iranian officials have stressed that the lifting of UN sanctions and acquisition of advanced Russian weaponry are important political goals, with its defence establishment particularly keen on procuring advanced S-400 air defence systems and SU-35 fighter jets.
Expect Israel to lobby Russia extensively to prevent Iran from obtaining strategic weaponry that could pose a threat to Israeli air supremacy. Although it is unclear how receptive Moscow would be to Israeli outreach, the assertiveness of Washington’s posture is likely to influence the Kremlin’s decision-making process. Iran is an important Russian ally and arms sales are a critical source of revenue for the Kremlin at a time when energy prices have plummeted, but if Washington warned that such transactions would further inhibit Moscow’s access to the US banking system and lead to targeted sanctions, it could induce the Kremlin to reconsider a deal with Tehran.
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