Iran paraded its new S-300 missile system in Tehran Sunday, after weeks of uncertainty over when Moscow would deliver the system to the Islamic Republic.
The parade marks Iran's annual Army Day celebration; photos of the haul appeared on social media and Iranian news websites.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated at the event that the arsenal on display - which, according to Fars, did not include the missiles themselves - proved Iran's prowess over "arrogant regional powers."
“Those who say we do not need hard power are naïve, and those who say we do not need soft power are short-sighted," he added.
Long delays
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 2015, 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 news media waffled over whether it had actually received the missiles last week, first stating that they had arrived, then backtracking.
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.