Sputnik- Iran wants to increase its defense tech cooperation with Russia, including the joint development of more anti-missile defense systems and fighter aircraft, Emad Abshenass of Iran Press told Sputnik.


On Thursday, Iranian army commander Major General Ataollah Salehi told Tasnim News that Iran has produced a missile defense system that is superior to�Russia's S-300 long range surface-to-air missile, which Iran took delivery of�last year.


As well as�developing its own Bavar 373 surface-to-air missile system, Iran has recently taken delivery of�several Russian S-300 launch systems.

Russia delivered the S-300 last year, honoring a $900 million contract dating back to�2007.

Russia had suspended the arms deal in�2010 following�UN Security Council Resolution 1929, which banned the sale of�weapons to�Iran.

Iran responded by�developing a similar missile defense system and filing a complaint against�Russia with�the International Court of�Arbitration in�Geneva.

In April 2015, during�successful negotiations between�Tehran and the 6+1 groups of�countries regarding Iran's nuclear program, Russian President Vladimir Putin removed the embargo and Tehran withdrew the case from�arbitration last year after�Russia made the first delivery of�the units.

On Saturday, Iran released a video showing the successful test of�its S-300 system.

Nevertheless, Tehran has continued with�the production of�its own missile defense system, the Bavar (Belief) 373, which has similar characteristics to�Russia's S-300 system.

Last week, Iran's deputy defense minister Amir Khatami announced that Iran is carrying out�tests of�the Bavar 373, which was first unveiled last August.

Chief editor of�Iran Press Emad Abshenass told Sputnik that Iran's development of�the Bavar 373 does not preclude a desire to�obtain more anti-missile systems from�Russia since�Tehran is keen to�develop varied and modern defense capabilities.

"Iran is interested in�receiving next-generation systems from�Russia, since�it is very important for�our country's armed forces to�modify and strengthen its air defense network with�the latest developments in�technology."

Abshenass said that Iran wants to�develop its own air defense systems in�collaboration with�Russia, including the purchase of�more anti-missile systems and fighter aircraft.
"There is currently media information circulating that Iran, in�cooperation with�Russia, is conducting or is planning to�conduct the modernization of�its air defense in�the near�future, beginning with [adding]modern fighter jets to�new Russian missile defense systems and S-400 air defense systems," Abshenass said.


"Even if Iran is now building something of�its own that is more modern than�the Russian systems supplied earlier, that doesn't mean that Iran won't buy Russian military systems. On the contrary, it retains an interest in�using Russian arms."
"Moreover, military and technological cooperation between�Iran and Russia is gaining momentum. Now Iran and Russia are actively negotiating for�the joint assembly and production of�some models of�Russian weapons in�Iran. These might be modern models of�tanks and combat aircraft," Abshenass said.