Russia says has not delivered S-300 systems to Iran

MOSCOW, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Russia has so far not supplied S-300 air defense systems to Iran, a Russian deputy prime minister said on Wednesday.

"Presently, there are no such deliveries," Sergei Ivanov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

Ivanov reiterated that the system is meant purely for defense.

Russia and Iran clinched a deal on selling S-300 system several years ago. Unofficial information indicates that the Russian-Iranian contract envisions the sale of S-300PMU1 missiles worth some 800 million U.S. dollars.

The S-300PMU1 multi-channel mobile air defense system is designed to intercept modern and projected aircraft, strategic cruise missiles, and other targets flying at up to 2,800 meters per second.

Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to Moscow for talks, which according to media reports focused on the possible sale of S-300 systems to Iran.