(AP)

The finalizing of the sale of an advanced missile system to the Islamic Republic appears to be a direct and immediate result of the Iran nuclear deal.

Now that the Iran nuclear deal has been signed and diplomatic pressure on European countries to forego doing business with Tehran is gone, Russia is ready to deliver the sophisticated S-300 air defense missile system to the Islamic Republic.

Russia signed the $800 million contract to sell Iran the S-300 missile system in 2007, but suspended delivery in 2010 because of strong objections from the United States and Israel. However, since the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was signed in July between Iran and the P5+1 powers, Moscow and Tehran are due to sign the purchase agreement by next week.

“We will go to Russia next week to sign the deal and there is no barrier hindering the agreement,” Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan stated Tuesday, the Iranian Students’ News Agency reports.

In fact, already in April, after the signing of the framework agreement between Iran and the six global powers, the Kremlin announced that Russia had lifted its ban on the delivery of the system.

The reason given for lifting the ban was the interim agreement struck between Iran and the P5+1, which enables renewed ties and transactions with the Islamic Republic.

“Israel views with utmost gravity the supply of S-300 missiles from Russia to Iran, especially at a time when Iran is stepping up its aggression in the region and around the borders of the state of Israel,” Netanyahu stated after the agreement was announced.

If Iran does in fact obtain the surface-to-air missiles, an aerial attack on Iran by the US or Israel will become a much more complex and dangerous task. The annihilation of the “Zionist entity” continues to be a stated goal of the Islamic Republic.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei recently published a book – after the signing of the nuclear agreement – on how to destroy the Jewish state. He has also continued to declare hostility to the US, which he describes as an enemy of Iran.

The S-300 is one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world, designed to intercept aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles.

By: United with Israel Staff

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