Full-scale military-technical cooperation between Moscow and Tehran would be resumed if the UN arms embargo is lifted, a Russian military expert opined.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)�� When the UN sanctions are lifted, the potential market for�deals between�Russia and Iran for�military hardware could be estimated to�reach $11-13 billion, Igor Korotchenko, the head of�a Russian think tank specializing in�weapons sales, said on�Friday.In accordance with�Thursday�s nuclear energy deal reached during�Iran-P5+1 talks, US and EU sanctions imposed on�Iran will be suspended after�the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verifies that Tehran is following�through with�the agreements. Russia�s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov added that the UN arms embargo against�Iran should also be lifted.

�Our countries have great potential for�development of�military-technical cooperation, the full scale of�possible Russian arms deliveries to�Iran could reach 11-13 billion dollars," Korotchenko told RIA Novosti.

He stressed that full-scale military-technical cooperation between�Moscow and Tehran would be resumed if the UN arms embargo is lifted.According to�Korotchenko, Russia could become a major supplier of�military equipment to�the Islamic Republic, as�Tehran, planning an ambitious program of�rearmament for�the country's army and navy, is politically unlikely to�buy weapons from�Western countries.

On June 9, 2010, the UN Security Council passed a resolution implementing sanctions against�Iran over�its controversial nuclear program. Many of�the sanction were military, including a ban on�the sale of�modern weapons to�the country.

On September 22, 2010, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed an executive order enforcing the UN SecurityCouncil resolution. The document banned all military sales from�Russia to�Iran and included the transfer of�weapons to�Iran from�outside the borders of�Russia by�aircraft or vessels operating under�the Russian state flag.In October 2011, Russia delivered a ground-based 1L222 Avtobaza radar-jamming station to�Iran. This was the first officially recorded sale following�the introduction of�sanctions.


By Sputnik News