Russia could supply Iran air defenses

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. military analysts say they fear the Kremlin will supply a sophisticated air defense system to Iran in retaliation for NATO moves in Georgia and Ukraine.

The two former Soviet Union satellites are seeking to join the Western alliance, which could result in Russia seeking to supply a powerful S-300 system to Iran, a U.S. intelligence official told The Sunday Telegraph.

The system, which can track 100 targets simultaneously, could be a "game-changer" in the Middle East, Pentagon adviser Dan Goure told the newspaper.

"This is a system that scares every Western air force," he said.

The Telegraph reported unnamed U.S. intelligence operatives are saying Russia plans to use a stand-off over the S-300 to set up a foreign policy confrontation with the new U.S. president.

"The message from Moscow is very clear," said George Friedman, director of the private U.S. intelligence agency Stratfor. "They are saying if you don't stop meddling in our sphere of influence, this is what we are going to do."