Russia Plays Hard to Get (Missiles) with Iran

Yesterday we blogged about Russia’s need to keep Iran in the lurch with regard to delivery of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system. Also, the unexpected announcement by the Iranians appeared to have caught the Russians off guard, and led many to conclude that it was a preemptive bargaining tactic to force Moscow’s hand (Gazprom has perfected this method of premature announcements of deals). True to form, today the Russians are denying the delivery of this missile system, and even denying that talks are taking place: “The question of deliveries of S-300 systems to Iran, which has now arisen in the mass media, is not currently taking place, is not being considered and is not being discussed at this time with the Iranian side,” said a representative from the Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service (FSVTS). I wonder what the response from Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar and the Iranians will be to this news? Perhaps silence, or perhaps more Nabucco and gas export talk…