Is Russia choosing sides now?

Russia just delivered sophisticated missile defense weapons to Iran to protect their Nuclear facilities. What does this mean?

Is Russia choosing sides?

AAC

This means that Iran wants to buy defensive weapons, and Russia is one of the countries willing to make a profit on it. This has little to do about choosing sides, and is mostly about money and possibly upsetting US' plans in Mid East.

The deal is nothing new, as the sale agreement for these very missiles was signed on December 3, 2005.

The Tor M1 ('Gauntlet') SAM (surface-to-air) missiles are sophisticated, but they are not new, and only offer low range protection- 20 kilometers maximum (6km altitude), as opposed to 400+ km for S-400- and can pose no threat to US forces in Iraq.

Furthermore Iran also has a deal to receive 'Kolchuga' early warning radar systems from no other than Ukraine, which is a new US "ally". So I wouldn't jump to conclusions that Russia is choosing to side or ally with Iran, it seems to mostly be about the money.

Politically Russia is not too friendly with Iran, but it also isn't interested in Iran being invaded, because it would give US access to the Caspian Sea. So the current stalemate regarding US and Iran is what Russia wants, and defensive weapons would insure that it continues for a longer time.

Interesting story. It's important to note these launchers are purely defensive.

Over the past few years Iran has been engaged in a thorough military buildup. We've seen their first native tank, submarine, and missile. Most of the announcements were last year. There was an Iranian member on this site, Mehran, he was very informed about all this. From the looks of it they are definitely preparing. As they should.

Here's some more..
www.cbsnews.com...

The only thing at this time that will stop a US attack on Iran would be a overthrow of there current government and a Immediate stop on all nuclear R&D. Anything short of this Israel will go in them selves.

I dont think Russia is choosing sides the way the question suggests. I do think however they are doing as they and some other countries always have done, chose the side opposite that of the US as a way to exert them selves on the world stage and keeping the US in check , at least in there own minds.

[edit on 24-1-2007 by WOGIT]