Source:

29 September 2010

Moscow’s refusal to sell Iran high-precision air defense missiles will cost Russia $1 billion in lost revenue, State Duma Deputy Konstantin Kosachev said Tuesday.

Russia could pay a still higher price for banning the supply of S-300 missiles if Tehran successfully sues for compensation, Kosachev, head of the Duma’s International Affairs Committee, told Russia Today television.

But Kosachev said Russia risked far more costly political damage if it delivered the missiles. “Any current or possible commercial losses for Russia should not prevail over the political losses or damages if we are not in line with the nonproliferation regime, with our commitments to the Security Council and the United Nations,” he said. “This is far more important.”