Moscow’s refusal to send weapons and military equipment, in particular S-300 to Iran should be regarded in the context of international struggle against Tehran’s nuclear program, Iranian studies expert Sevak Sarukhanyan told NEWS.am.

He deems that Russia made such statement, as it realized that Iran’s nuclear program has reached the final stage. “Obviously, Russia does not want to have a “nuclear” neighbor near its southern borders, as it threatens country’s national security,” Sarukhanyan stated. He noted that Iran was never a partner of Russia. “A number of Russian-Iranian agreements have been signed, but the Iranian side has not fulfilled them,” he added. The expert found difficult to say to what extent Russian-Iranian relations will be deteriorated, stressing that countries are already in confrontation.

Earlier, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev banned supply of S-300 systems, military equipment, combat aircrafts, helicopters and vessels. It is provided by the decree on measures implementing UN Security Council resolution as of June 9, 2010.

As NEWS.sm reported earlier, on Sep. 22, Nikolai Markov, Chief of the Russian armed forces told the journalists that the decision to block supplies was made due to current sanctions against Iran. The agreement on supplies of S-300 air-defense systems was signed in 2007. In accordance with the treaty, Russia had to supply five batteries of S-300 to Iran amounting about $800 m.