Russia seeks amicable solution of Iran S-300 lawsuit

Amman, June 1 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Moscow is trying to persuade Tehran to withdraw its lawsuit against Russia's state-run arms export company Rosoboronexport over a cancelled deal to supply S-300 air defence systems to Iran.

Iranian defence ministry and The Aerospace Industries Organisation have launched a $4 bln lawsuit against Rosoboronexport in an international arbitration court in Geneva in April 2011.

"The lawsuit is being considered by an arbitration court in Geneva and, unfortunately, our chances to win the case are very slim," Sergei Chemezov, the Russian Technologies (Rostech) chief executive officer, said in Jordon.

"We are trying to agree an amicable settlement with Iran, but no progress has been made so far," he said at the opening ceremony of a Russian grenade-launcher assembly facility in Jordan on Thursday.

Iranian officials say Tehran will withdraw its lawsuit only if Russia fulfils the original contract.

The $800-million contract to supply Iran with the missile system was signed at the end of 2007. Moscow was to supply five S-300PMU-1 battalions to Tehran.

On Sep. 22, 2010, Dmitry Medvedev, the then Russian president, signed a decree cancelling the contract in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1929, which bans supply to Iran of conventional weapons including missiles and missile systems, tanks, attack helicopters, warplanes and ships.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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