Russia confirms arms sales to Iran

And...? It isn't like someone, oh let me see, like Bush might attack Iran.

Russia has delivered new anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran and would consider further requests by Tehran for defensive weapons, Moscow confirmed today.

Washington and Israel, who accuse Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear arms and undermining security in the region, have criticised the sale of TOR-M1 missiles. Tehran, they say, could use them against its neighbours.

"We have supplied the modern short-range anti-aircraft systems TOR-M1 in accordance with our contracts," Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov told reporters when asked about the sale.

"We're developing our military and technical cooperation with Iran in accordance with international law and will continue to develop it," he said. "And if Iran wants to buy defensive, I underline defensive, equipment for its armed forces then why not?"

Defensive systems make abundant sense. No leader of any country would be responsible unless such systems were in place.

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