According to Iran International, Former Iranian deputy parliament speaker Ali Motahari has sharply criticized Russia for refusing to supply Iran with the advanced S-400 air defense system, despite Tehran’s assistance to Moscow through drone support in the Ukraine conflict.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Motahari highlighted the perceived imbalance in Russia’s military partnerships.
“Russia has given the S-400 air defense system to Turkey and Saudi Arabia, but does not give it to Iran, which has provided it with drone assistance in the war with Ukraine, because it might be used against Israel,” he wrote.
The S-400 system is one of Russia’s most advanced missile defense technologies, capable of tracking and intercepting a wide range of aerial threats, including ballistic missiles and stealth aircraft.
While Russia has delivered these systems to regional rivals Turkey and Saudi Arabia, it has consistently withheld them from Iran.
This refusal has raised questions about the nature of Russia’s strategic cooperation with Iran, especially given Tehran’s support for Moscow’s military efforts in Ukraine.
Motahari’s comments suggest a sense of frustration within Iranian political circles over what they see as Moscow’s reluctance to fully back Tehran’s defense needs.
Historically, Russia has been cautious about supplying Iran with the S-400, reportedly due to concerns that the system could be used against Israel, a close ally of Russia’s other regional partners.
This dynamic has complicated Iran’s efforts to enhance its air defense capabilities amid ongoing regional tensions.
Iran has sought to strengthen its domestic defense industry, developing indigenous systems such as the Bavar-373, which Iranian officials claim rivals the S-400.
Nonetheless, the denial of the S-400 from Russia remains a contentious issue in Tehran’s military and political discourse.
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