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Russia Will Send First S-300 Missile System to Iran on Thursday

MOSCOW (Reuters) -
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Dehghan (L) shake hands during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, February 16, 2016 in this handout provided by Russian Defence Ministry. REUTERS/Vadim Savitsky/Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Dehghan (L) shake hands during their meeting in Moscow,  Tuesday. (Reuters/Vadim Savitsky/Russian Defense Ministry)

Russia will send the first S-300 air defense missile system to Iran on Thursday, Russia’s RIA state news agency reported on Wednesday, quoting an unidentified source.

The missile system will be delivered under the terms of an earlier contract.

RIA also reported that Russia will sign a contract with Iran to supply a batch of its Sukhoi Su-30SM multi-role fighter jets to the Islamic Republic this year, quoting a senior official at Russia’s arms export agency.

Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan is visiting Moscow this week. He met the Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, the Kremlin said, giving no further details.