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United States studying information on Russian defense minister's visit to Tehran

The US side had previously made it clear that it objects to any sale of the S-300 system to Iran, these objections are still in force, a US State Department official reminds

WASHINGTON, January 21. /TASS/. The US administration is still “studying” information about Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu’s visit to Tehran. The US side warned in advance that the supplies of Russia’s S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran would be unacceptable.

The United States has seen the news about the meetings in Iran between Russian and Iranian government officials to discuss military cooperation and possible agreements. Now it is studying reports about these meetings, a US State Department official told TASS on condition of anonymity.

The US side had previously made it clear that it objects to any sale of the S-300 system to Iran, the official added. These objections are still in force.

According to previous TASS reports, during Sergey Shoigu’s visit to Tehran the sides signed, in particular, an agreement on military cooperation between Russia and Iran.

The implementation of the Russian-Iranian contract on the supply of the S-300 anti-aircraft defense systems was suspended in connection with the introduction of UN sanctions against Iran in September 2010. Tehran later challenged this decision through court. Last summer, Iran announced that it successfully tested its own analogue of the S-300 system, known as Bavar-373 (Belief-373).