(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-28 22:28

MOSCOW -- Russia is not negotiating deliveries of S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran despite media reports, the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said in a statement Friday.

"The issue of the delivery of S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran, raised by the media, is not a subject of current negotiations and has not been discussed with the Iranians," the statement published on its website said.

"Civilized interaction in the military and technical area, which fully complies with the requirements of the rules which govern international exports and international obligations, has continued between Russia and Iran," the statement said.

Iran's Fars news agency Wednesday quoted the country's Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar as saying that Tehran signed a contract with Russia on Tuesday for the delivery of advanced S-300 air defense missile systems to the Islamic Republic.

But the minister provided no details of the deal or any timeline for delivery of the system.

Russia's deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov told reporters Thursday that Russia supports normal relations with Iran and is assisting Iran in strengthening the country's air defense systems.

"I know we are assisting in work to reinforce Iran's air defense systems," Losyukov was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

Air defense and radar systems are the priority directions in Russian-Iranian military cooperation, director of the federal service for military-technological cooperation, Mikhail Dmitriyev told the Itar-Tass news agency last week.

Dmitriyev said the military cooperation between Russia and Iran strengthens stability in the region.

The advanced version of the S-300 missile system, called S-300PMU1 (SA-20 Gargoyle), has a range of over 150 km and can intercept ballistic missiles and aircraft at low and high altitudes, making this system an effective tool for warding off possible air strikes on Iran.

Moscow earlier supplied Iran with 29 Tor-M1 air defense missile systems under a 700-million-dollar contract signed in late 2005. Russia has also trained Iranian Tor-M1 specialists, including radar operators and crew commanders.