S-300
S-300Reuters

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hossein Jaberi Ansari on Monday said that a shipment of advanced Russian S-300 missile defense systems is currently on its way to Iran, following many years of delay over sanctions against the transfer.

Speaking at a press conference, Ansari was quoted by Xinhua as saying, "the agreement for the delivery of S-300 systems has been finalized over the past months and they are being shipped to Iran."

He also said Iran and Russia have diversified their mutual cooperation, and have "remarkable" political and defense cooperation.

The sale of the S-300, originally conducted in 2007, has been repeatedly delayed due to Western pressure given that UN nuclear sanctions ban the delivery to Iran.

But in April, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree lifting a ban on the delivery of the S-300 systems to Iran, explaining that his decision was motivated by Iran's drive to find a solution in talks over its nuclear program, which led to a controversial nuclear deal last July.

Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan last Tuesday had said the first shipment of S-300 systems would come within the next two months.

There is great concern over the shipment of the S-300 to the leading state sponsor of terror, given the advanced system's ability to shoot down missiles as well as jets, further defending Tehran's controversial nuclear program.