TEHRAN, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Iran has begun accepting delivery of components for an advanced Russian S-300 air defense system, a senior Iranian lawmaker said Sunday.
Esmaeil Kosari, deputy chairman of the Iranian Parliament's commission on national security and foreign policy, told the Iranian news agency IRNA that Iran and Russian have finalized a deal on the surface-to-air defense system, and that the Islamic Republic would deploy it to strengthen its border areas.
The report comes after Iran recently acknowledged taking delivery of 29 Russian-made Tor-M1 air defense missile systems as part of a $700 million contract signed in 2005, RIA Novosti reported. Russian officials say they have trained Iranian military specialists, including radar operators and crew commanders.
The Russian news agency says the advanced version of the S-300 missile system purchased by Iran, called S-300PMU1, or SA-20 Gargoyle, has a range of more than 100 miles and can intercept ballistic missiles and aircraft at low and high altitudes.
