Lifting ban on defense systems delivery to Iran not to harm regional security: Russian FM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday justified Moscow's decision to lift a ban on supplying Iran with sophisticated air defense systems, saying it poses no threat to regional security.

"S-300 is a completely defensive weapon. It will not jeopardize security of any country in the region, including Israel," Lavrov said.

As progress has been made at the talks between Iran and international mediators over Teheran's controversial nuclear program, said the foreign minister, Russia's embargo on the defense systems is fully unnecessary now.

The Russian top diplomat denied that the Kremlin's decision was a breach of the 2010 U.N. Security Council resolution which banned the supply of conventional weapons to Iran.

"The resolution did not forbid exports of defensive armaments ( to Iran)," Lavrov said.

Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to lift the ban on the sales of the S-300 air defense systems to Iran.

The move came after Iran and six world powers, including Russia, reached a framework agreement earlier this month on parameters of Iran's controversial nuclear program.

A U.S. Defense Department spokesman voiced Pentagon's " opposition" to the sales on Monday, saying it's "unhelpful".

Moscow and Tehran signed an 800-million-U.S.dollar contract in 2007 to supply Iran with five S-300 systems.

In September 2010, then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev canceled the contract to comply with the UN Security Council resolution. Endite