MOSCOW, June 22 (UPI) -- Russia has offered to give an air defense system to Iran in an effort to stop a $4 billion lawsuit over failing to provide Tehran with an S-300 missile system.
The new offer is for an Antei-2500air defense system, which can destroy as many as 24 aircraft within a range of about 124 miles, or intercept as many as 16 ballistic missiles, RIA Novosti reported Saturday.
Iran signed an $800 million deal with Russia for five S-300 missile complexes but the deal was scrapped in 2010 by then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in accordance with the United Nations' increase in sanctions against Iran.
Tehran has since filed a $4 billion lawsuit against Moscow over the issue in the international arbitration court in Geneva. The lawsuit is currently pending review.
An Iranian diplomat whose name was not reported told the Kommersant newspaper the new offer may be accepted by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when he visits Moscow July 1.
