DHAKA: Russia will sign this year a contract with Iran to supply a batch of its Sukhoi Su-30SM multi-role fighter jets to the Islamic Republic.

RIA news agency on Wednesday quoted a senior official at Russia’s arms export agency as saying, reports The Jerusalem Post.

Iranian defense minister Hossein Dehghan is visiting Moscow this week. He met the Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, the Kremlin said, giving no further detail.

Iran is also due to start taking delivery of the S-300 missiles system from Russia in the next two months, a system that was blocked before the landmark nuclear deal with world powers.

Russia canceled a contract to deliver the advanced anti-missile rocket system to Iran in 2010 under pressure from the West following UN sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program.

Tehran agreed to the deal on curbing its nuclear work in July last year and international sanctions were lifted in January. But tensions with Washington have remained high as Tehran continues to develop its military capabilities.

BDST: 1502 HRS, FEB 17, 2016
RR