Quote:Russia's ban on the sale of S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran was the result of Tehran's "flawed foreign policies", a senior Russian deputy said Monday.
"The ban is not Russia's choice; it is the choice of Iran," Konstantin Kosachyov, head of the Russian lower house's international affairs committee, also told journalists.
On September 22, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree prohibiting the delivery of S-300 air defense systems and a host of other military hardware to Iran as a part of measures Russia is taking to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1929 of June 9, 2010.
The sanctions were imposed over concerns that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons. Iran denies the allegations.
Russia signed an $800 million contract on delivery to Iran of S-300 systems to equip at least five battalions in late 2007.
Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi earlier Monday hit out at Russia, saying that its ban on the delivery of the S-300 air defense systems shows it "cannot be trusted."
S-300 systems are capable of destroying aircraft at ranges of 150 km (90 miles) and at altitudes of up to 27 km (17 miles).
MOSCOW, September 27 (RIA Novosti)