DHAKA: Russian president Vladimir Putin has approved the transfer of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran, according to the prestigious Russian daily newspaper Kommersant.

The newspaper reported on Wednesday that the Russian government will revive the transfer three years after it cancelled the original transaction, says The Jerusalem Post.

According to Kommersant, the Kremlin agreed to Tehran’s request to complete the transaction, which will net the Russian treasury $800 million.

In addition to the missile deal, Russia has also agreed to construct another nuclear reactor in Bushehr.

The Kommersant report says the two sides are expected to finalise the details of the deal this coming Friday, when Putin is expected to meet his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rohani, in the central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan.

Kommersant reported on Wednesday that the Russians intend on supplying Iran with a less advanced version of the S-300 than originally thought.

The Russian-manufactured anti-aircraft batteries have been a source of concern to Israeli officials who fear that their enemies’ possession of them could have adverse strategic consequences.

BDST: 1911 HRS, SEPT 11, 2013
RoR/GCP