Russia committed to delivering the systems to Iran under a USD-800-million deal in 2007.
Moscow, however, refused to deliver the systems to Tehran in 2010 under the pretext that the agreement was covered by the fourth round of the United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. The resolution bars hi-tech weapons sales to Tehran.
And finally, in April 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted a previous ban on the delivery of S-300 to Iran.
S-300 missile system is a defensive armament that is capable of targeting ballistic and tactical missiles and aircraft.
This model of launcher has a range of about 93 miles, can fire at multiple targets, and can down aircraft flying as high as 90,000 feet. Additionally, the satellites associated with the S-300 can track aerial targets up to 150 miles away.
This range and capability could allow Iran to position the S-300s in such a way as to project its aerial power far beyond its own borders.
These capabilities could allow Iran to track US and US-allied military flights, as well as targeting hostile aircraft flying over neighboring countries and throughout the Persian Gulf. For example, the Bahrain International Airport and the American Naval Base in Bahrain would both be within the 150 mile tracking range of Iranian S-300s if they were placed along Iran's southern coast, according to Business Insider report.
Aside from a potential projection of Iranian aerial power, S-300s would also allow Iran to set up a formidable ring of defense around its nuclear sites. Iranian air defenses would be nearly impenetrable against all but the most advanced US aircraft, the report said.
The delivery of the system would mitigate the threat of military action against Tehran in case of breaches in the nuclear agreement.
Basically, the existence of the S-300s would make any military action against Iran extremely difficult and costly — even for the US Military.
As the systems are mobile, the US would have difficulty targeting the systems themselves while non-stealth jets would not be able to operate safely over Iran, reported by Business Insider.
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