Given the Islamic Republic of Irans prominent role in preserving regional balance, peace and stability, it is necessary that our country possess complete and up-to-date military equipment, Ali Akbar Velayati, the foreign affairs' adviserto Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, told reporters on Tuesday.
Pointing toRussias imminent delivery of S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system to Iran, headdedthat the Islamic Republic will undertake any necessary legitimate measure for upgrading its military power fordefendingits territory.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
The Russian surface-to-air missile system S-300 displayed on Suvorovskaya square in central Moscow. (AFP Photo)[/caption]On April 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree paving the way for the long-overdue delivery of the defense system to Iran after Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries reached a mutual understanding on Tehrans nuclear program in the Swiss city of Lausanne on April 2.
Russia had previously banned the delivery of the missile defense system to Tehran in 2010 under the pretext that the agreement it signed with Iran in 2007 was covered by the fourth round of the UN Security Council sanctions against the country over its nuclear program.
Chinese presidents planned visit to Iran
Velayati, who was speaking in a joint press conference with Deng Li, the Director General of the Department of West Asian and North African Affairs at Chinas Foreign Ministry, also announced thatChinese President Xi Jinping plans to visit Iran.
The necessary consultations havebeen conducted in this regard and in case theappropriate time arrives, the Chinese president will travel to Iran and hold talks about issues pertaining to the two countries relations, the Iranian official said.
He said Tehran and Beijing have strategic ties and enjoy the capacity to increase their trade transactionsto some $200 billion annually.
By Press TV
