TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi criticized Russia on Thursday for banning sales of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to his country.
Vahidi said Russia was at risk of humiliating itself for caving to international pressure to ban the sales. President Dmitry Medvedev ordered the ban Wednesday.
“We think Russia should show it has an independent stance in choosing its relations with other countries as well as on international issues,” he said in an interview with Iranian state television. He also played down the importance of the deal, saying it was “not vital” because Iran would build a similar system in the future.
(AP)
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