Obama: S-300 missiles won't protect against US strikes in Iran

[F-22Raptor]

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday urged “perspective” on Iran's S-300 missile deal with Russia, saying the weapons were no match against his country's military prowess.

The S-300 air defense systems, built by Russia's largest defense contractor Almaz-Antey, are some of the most advanced weapons of their kind on the market, prompting fears that the weapons would be used to defend Iranian nuclear sites.

But in a televised interview on MSNBC's “Hardball” program, Obama said the U.S.' roughly $600-billion defense budget outstripped any military strategy that Iran could afford, with the latter only spending $17 billion on defense.

“Even if the [Iranians] have got some [Russian S-300] air defense systems. ..You know, if we had to, we could penetrate them,” Obama told interviewer Chris Matthews.

“This is a sale that has been pending for six years. In fact, the Russians stopped it at my request as we were putting together the sanctions that ultimately brought the Iranians to the table. It's of concern, we object to it … [but] we have to keep this in perspective,” he added.

Iran signed a contract with Russia to buy five S-300 systems for $800 million in 2007, but in 2010 then-President Dmitry Medvedev decided to freeze delivery as a sign of good will toward the West.

Putin earlier this month signed a decree lifting the ban after world powers, including Russia, reached an interim deal with Iran on curbing its nuclear program.

Obama: Russian S-300 Missiles Won’t Protect Against U.S. Strikes in Iran | Opinion | The Moscow Times

 

[rockstar08]

Was that suppose to be a threat ?
@Serpentine

 

[The SC]

Obama might be right on the budget figures, but he is far from saying the truth, that is the strait of Hormuz, and the possibility of it being closed... Also penetrating a very dense and modern air defense like the Iranian one will be costly, maybe just too costly.
Iran was already operating the very dangerous S-200 system which it has also upgraded to be mobile. and regardless of the S-300 system , the Bavar was coming soon , so what was the point of sanctioning the S-300 anymore...
Notice that Obama is speaking in different tenses!!!

 

[Serpentine]

Was that suppose to be a threat ?
@Serpentine

Like Americans are totally alien with concept of threatening.

 

[munchkin]

Maybe not, but Americans should not forget Iran is a neighbor state of Russia. An attack on Iran is the same as an attack on Russia.

 

[azzo]

Maybe not, but Americans should not forget Iran is a neighbor state of Russia. An attack on Iran is the same as an attack on Russia.

ROFL, by your logic, an attack on North Korea is the same as attacking South Korea.

You're delusional if you think that a country will risk its reputation by allying with a renegade country like Iran.

 

[munchkin]

ROFL, by your logic, an attack on North Korea is the same as attacking South Korea.

You're delusional if you think that a country will risk its reputation by allying with a renegade country like Iran.

North Korea is China's puppet. If South Korea attacks North Korea, then China will attack South Korea.

Iran is Russia's puppet.

 

[azzo]

No, you're even lower than that, Russia won't risk its humongous trade with Saudi Arabia and US for a sanctioned entity called Iran. Same thing with China.

 

[munchkin]

No, you're even lower than that, Russia won't risk its humongous trade with Saudi Arabia and US for a sanctioned entity called Iran. Same thing with China.

Don't want WW3? Then the US should know, not to attack Iran and / or North Korea. Those are red line.

As neighbor states, China and Russia can openly arm their puppets. The US would face crippling losses just as it had in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

[azzo]

Lets see what happens.

 

[munchkin]

Lets see what happens.

Nothing will happen. The US is not big enough to take on China and Russia at their doorsteps.

 

[Mitro]

 

[Pak47]

Talk is cheap even the U.S. knows the consequences of putting the entire region in turmoil.

You know, if we had to, we could penetrate them,” Obama told interviewer Chris Matthews.

 

[munchkin]

“Even if the [Iranians] have got some [Russian S-300] air defense systems. ..You know, if we had to, we could penetrate them,” Obama told interviewer Chris Matthews.

There goes that dirty talk again