Israel views Russia’s S-300 sale to Iran with ‘utmost gravity’: PM
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again criticized Russia over its decision to lift a ban on the delivery of S-300 missile system to Iran, saying Tel Aviv sees the plan with “utmost gravity.”
"Israel views with utmost gravity the supply of S-300 missiles from Russia to Iran," Netanyahu said at a weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday.
The Israeli premier added that Tel Aviv “will do whatever is necessary” to protect Israelis.
On April 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree paving the way for the long-overdue delivery of S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Iran.
The decision to lift the ban comes after Iran and the P5+1 group of countries - the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany - reached a mutual understanding on Tehran’s nuclear program in the Swiss city of Lausanne on April 2.
Moscow had banned the delivery of the system to Tehran in 2010 under the pretext that the agreement it signed with Iran in 2007 was covered by the fourth round of the United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. The resolution bars hi-tech weapons sales to the Islamic Republic.
The Russian president on Thursday defended Moscow’s decision on S-300 supply to Iran, saying the system is meant for deterrence amid ongoing developments in war-torn Yemen.
“This is a defensive weapons system. More than that, considering the situation that is building up in the region, especially regarding the incidents in Yemen, we think that the delivery of this kind of weapon is a preventive factor,” Putin said.
Saudi Arabia began its military aggression against Yemen on March 26, without a UN mandate, in a bid to restore power to fugitive former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is a close ally of Riyadh.
According to sources in the Yemeni army, more than 2,600 people have been killed during the aggression.
SF/KA/SS
Russia: Comprehensive deal with Iran will include defense, security ties
Leader: All captains of criminal, Zionist, terrorist gang must be prosecuted
Iran decries US intervention in Venezuela’s internal affairs
Israel launches air strikes on Syria-Lebanon border crossing
Russia: Comprehensive deal with Iran will include defense, security ties
VIDEO | Israeli embassy shooting in Jordan leaves gunman dead, 3 police injured
VIDEO | Paris march in support of Palestine women
VIDEO | ICC issues arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister, ousted regime war minister
120 Palestinians perish as Israeli war machine keeps ravaging Gaza
VIDEO | Struggles of Palestinian women amidst war, displacement
VIDEO | Hezbollah rains attack drones down on elite Israeli brigade
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
