Iran nuclear crisis: US complains over Russian intercept of reconnaissance plane.US concern as Russia lifts ban on Iran arms delivery

Iran nuclear crisis: US complains over Russian intercept of reconnaissance plane.US concern as Russia lifts ban on Iran arms delivery

14 APRIL 2015

Russian officials say the US plane was heading for the Russian border (file picture)

US officials say they will file an official complaint about Russia's intercept of a US reconnaissance plane.

The incident occurred over the Baltic Sea on 7 April, according to the United States European Command, which called the intercept "unsafe" and "unprofessional".
US officials say the plane was in international airspace at the time.
The Russian defence ministry denied any wrongdoing on the part of its pilots, according to Russian media reports.
Russian Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov said the US plane had been "steadily moving towards the Russian state border," according to Interfax news agency.
A Russian jet "was scrambled, which approached the unidentified aircraft [and] flew by it several times," after which it changed course, Maj Gen Konashenkov said.
US officials say the fighter intercepted the US aircraft at a high rate of speed from the rear, and then proceeded to conduct two more passes using "unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvres" in close proximity.
Russia has been accused of border violations several times by its Baltic neighbours in recent months.
Baltic states have expressed concern at increasingly frequent snap Russian military drills in the region amid tension over the crisis in Ukraine.

 

Iran nuclear crisis: US concern as Russia lifts ban on Iran arms delivery

Russia struck a multi-million dollar deal to supply the S-300 system to Iran in 2007

The US has expressed concern after Russia lifted a ban on supplying Iran with the sophisticated S-300 air defence missile system.

Secretary of State John Kerry raised the matter in a phone call with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, the White House said.
Russia said the embargo was no longer necessary after an interim deal was reached on Iran's nuclear programme.
Tehran and six world powers aim to reach a final deal by 30 June.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest did not give details of Mr Kerry's phone call, but said "coordination and unity" with nations like Russia had been key to reaching agreement with Iran.

The missiles can shoot down jets and other missiles

A Pentagon spokesman called the move "unhelpful", saying concerns were being raised through the "appropriate diplomatic channels".
Russia agreed to sell the S-300 system in 2007, but blocked delivery in 2010 after the UN imposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.
The S-300 is a surface-to-air missile system that can be used against multiple targets including jets, or to shoot down other missiles.
Tehran welcomed the move as a step towards "establishing stability and security in the region", the country's Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said, according to state media.
But Israel, a vocal critic of the nuclear deal, has voiced dismay.
"This is a direct result of the legitimacy that Iran obtained from the emerging nuclear deal,'' said Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz.

The system will enhance Iran's ability to defend against air attacks

Mr Lavrov said the "S-300 is exclusively a defensive weapon, which cannot serve offensive purposes and will not jeopardise the security of any country, including, of course, Israel".
It is not clear when the systems will be delivered. Russia has stopped producing the model specified under the original contract and has instead offered an upgrade.
The deal on Iran's nuclear programme aims to restrict its ability to make nuclear weapons in exchange for sanctions relief.
It is due to be finalised by the end of June deadline, but sticking points remain, in particular on how and when to lift sanctions
Mr Kerry meanwhile has been holding closed door briefings with the US Congress, as he seeks to win over sceptical lawmakers who have threatened to block the deal.