Russia sells 5 more passenger planes to the Islamic Republic

Iran Press News: Despite the repeated crashes of Russian-made planes in Iran, Russian media announced that the Islamic Republic intends to purchase yet another five passenger planes from Russia.

The regime-run news agency ISNA, quoting the Russian news agency, Interfax reported that authorities from Ilyushin Finance company reported that Russia will hand over five TU- 204 passenger airplanes to Iran Tour company.

The Russian Company officials announced that this contract valued at about $180 million is scheduled to be signed just before December 15th and the delivery time has been slated for early 2008. The same officials also announced that the Islamic Republic intends to lease two II-96 planes to test fly; should they have a positive impression of the plane’s performance they have announced that they would also purchase several of these models as well.

Several months ago the French newspaper Le Monde, in an incisive article against Russia’s double-dealings with Tehran’s regime wrote: "While Moscow says it is making an attempt to get the regime in Tehran to accept Russia's proposal for the enrichment of Uranium on Russian soil, Russian arms companies are involved in transaction and sales of arms to the Islamic regime. On February 9th, the Director of the governmental agency for military and technical cooperation, Mikhail Dmitriev, confirmed that Russia had in fact delivered an anti-air defense system to the regime in Tehran. Dmitriev specified that there is no other contract however Russia is bound by its own guarantees and must satisfy its commitments. Last December Russian media reported that Russia intends to deliver 49 Tor-M1 missiles priced at $700 million to the Islamic regime. Based on reports in Russian newspapers these missiles are slated to be delivered by Fall 2006."