MOSCOW
The delivery of Russian-made S-300 defense missile systems to Iran will not be a threat to Israel or any other country in the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.
Lavrov's statement came on Monday after Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to lift the ban on the transfer of the systems.
Iran was in need of a modern air defense system in the light of recent developments in Yemen, where military activity has "rapidly developed in recent weeks", he said.
"S-300 missile systems are only of a defensive nature and will not put at risk the security of any country in the region, including Israel," said Lavrov at a press conference held after the decision was made in the Kremlin.
President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday lifting the ban on transfer of the system from Russia to Iran, according to the Kremlin press service.
The contract for Russia supplying S-300 defense missile systems to Iran was signed in 2007, but was unilaterally suspended in 2010 when the United Nations Security Council imposed its arms embargo on Iran.
The missile systems are designed to defend against air attacks and are said to be one of the world's most efficient anti-aircraft systems.
