No air defence sales to troubled regions - Russia

By Guy Faulconbridge

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia denied on Thursday it would sell air defence systems to "troubled regions" after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert tried this month to win a pledge from Moscow that it would not sell advanced arms to Iran.

Asked if Russia had promised not to deliver S-300 defence systems to Iran, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "We have already repeatedly stated at the very highest political levels that we do not intend to deliver those types of arms to countries which are located in troubled regions."

Media reports in the past few months, citing security sources, have said Russia may sell the Iran S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, a weapon that could help Tehran fend off an attack by Israel or the United States.

"I can tell you that questions about acquiring certain types of Russian arms can be raised by this or that country but the decision (on whether to sell) is taken at the high political level," spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told journalists.

Such decisions were made "based on the need to preserve both the balance of forces in the region from where the request comes and the need to preserve stability and security", he said.

Russia has in the past denied it is selling Iran the S-300 but Israeli defence sources told Reuters this month Moscow and Tehran were discussing the purchase.

The most advance version of the S-300 system can track targets and fire at aircraft 120 km (75 miles) away. It is known in the West as the SA-20.

Israel, the United States and other states suspect Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon, using its civilian nuclear programme as a cover. Iran has denied any such intention.