Russia: can sell Sukhoi-30 fighter jets and T-90 tanks to Iran

Tue Dec 13, 2016 7:31
Minister: Russia Mulling to Sell Super Jets to Iran
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950923001729

TEHRAN (FNA)- Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak disclosed that his
country is planning to sell its state-of-the-art super jets to Iran.

“We are negotiating with Iran on the sales of Sukhoi super jets,” Novak said
on Tuesday, addressing a Joint Iran-Russia Economic Commission meeting in
Tehran on Tuesday.

The Russian energy minister said that the Iranian and Russian sides are also
working to facilitate the financial transactions for joint ventures between
the two countries.

Novak also said that Tehran and Moscow have signed an agreement on joint
investments by the two countries.

In relevant remarks in early April, Head of Russian Foreign Ministry’s
Administration for Security and Disarmament Mikhail Oliyanov said Moscow can
sell Sukhoi-30 fighter jets and T-90 tanks to Iran as there are no
international obstacles.

“The UN Security Council’s Resolution 2231 has not banned sale of these
military equipment to Iran,” the Interfax news agency quoted Oliyanov as
saying.

“We are of the opinion that the possible sale of Sukhoi-30 fighter jets and
T-90 tanks of Russia to Iran have not been prohibited in Resolution 2231 and
this resolution has permitted Iran to purchase such military hardware,” he
added.

Also in April, the US Department of State Undersecretary for Political
Affairs Thomas Shannon said Washington would use its veto power in the
Security Council to block the possible sales of the fighter jets to Iran.

“The sale of Su-30 fighter aircraft is prohibited under UNSCR 2231 without
the approval of the UN Security Council and we would block the approval of
any sale of fighter aircraft under the restrictions,” Shannon said,
referring to the UN resolution.

Ulyanov, however, dismissed the claim, saying, “Such deliveries are not
prohibited, they are allowed, and this follows from the text of the
resolution.”

Resolution 2231, adopted by the Security Council on July 20, 2015, endorsed
a nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group, comprising Russia,
China, France, Britain, the US and Germany.

Shannon claimed that under the resolution, such weapon deliveries “require
the submission of relevant notification to the Security Council and this
notification’s endorsement by the Security Council.”

Ulyanov said Moscow has not forwarded such a notification to the Security
Council so far.

The Sukhoi Su-30 is a twin-engine, two-seat super maneuverable fighter
aircraft developed by Russia’s Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. It is a
multirole fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep
interdiction missions.

Source: http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=71890