Israel Protests Putin’s Sale of Missile Systems to Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday and expressed his opposition to this week’s announcement that the Kremlin has lifted its ban on selling Iran the S-300 air defense system. “The sale of advanced weapons to Iran is the result of the dangerous agreement that is emerging between Iran and the [six world] powers,” Netanyahu said. “After this arms deal [for the S-300], is there anyone who can seriously claim that the [framework] agreement with Iran will increase the security in the Middle East?” However, the announcement about the S-300 was just one aspect of a general move by Russia to resume trade relations with Iran in what some analysts are calling the beginning of a general collapse in the sanctions regime, even before a final nuclear deal is signed. Read More