Russia to Delay Shipment of S-300 Surface-to-Air Missiles to Iran

Interfax reports that Russia is indefinitely delaying shipment of advanced S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Iran. Iran has been eagerly awaiting delivery of the missiles, which would have meaningfully bolstered its defenses against attack upon its nuclear installations. According to Interfax:

"Russia will deliver S-300 surface-to-air missiles systems to Iran after the technical flaws uncovered have been fixed, the Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service's First Deputy Director Alexander Fomin has announced.

'The delay is due to technical problems. The systems will be delivered when these problems have been resolved,' Fomin told Interfax-AVN on Wednesday.

Fomin is leader of a Russian delegation to the Defexpo-India arms show.

No details were given on what kind of technical problems are involved, or how long it will take to fix them."

http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=147429

Now you know why Netanyahu was smiling in his photographs with Putin and Medvedev (see prior blog entry). This is a meaningful coup for Netanyahu and a serious setback for Iran, still susceptible to attack from above and forced to rethink its negotiating position with the U.S. and its allies.

Peculiar how Obama never dreamed of obtaining this concession from Russia. Or is it because Obama's advisers had already reconciled themselves to a nuclear Iran . . .