ANT KATZ

In their phone conversation, Netanyahu warned Putin that this sale will only encourage Iranian aggression in the region and further undermine the stability of the Middle East.

After the call yesterday, Netanyahu issued the following short statement: “This sale of advanced weaponry to Iran is the direct result of the dangerous deal on the table between Iran and the P5+1. Can anyone still seriously claim that the deal with Iran will enhance security in the Middle East?”

Israel is not alone in their condemnation of the Kremlin’s decision to lift the ban on delivery of the S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Iran – which has also been severely criticized by the US.

The WALL STREET JOURNAL reported Tuesday that an Iranian official had said he expects delivery of the sophisticated Russian S-300 missile system before the end of this year.

But, while the senior Iranian official said he believed his country would receive a powerful air-defence system from Russia as early as this year, Russian officials suggested the delivery could take longer, as divisions over lifting sanctions on Iran in exchange for a nuclear deal still persisted.

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SEE THE S-300 WORKS BELOW STORY

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Russia has used Iran’s desire to buy S-300 defensive ground-to-air missile systems as a bargaining chip in negotiations over the dismantlement of the Iranian nuclear program for years.

But with nuclear talks due to resume on 21 April, and aiming for a final deal by June 30, the Kremlin moved on Monday to lift its self-imposed ban on delivering such systems to Iran.

That signalled a new era of potential defence cooperation between the two countries and showed the thorny issues the US could face as sanctions on Tehran are lifted.

Supreme Security Council wants it this year

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The Russian S-300 ground-to-air missile system at a glance