Publish Date: 13 January 2020 - 15:54

TEHRAN, Jan. 13 (MNA) – Iraq's Ambassador to Tehran Saad Jawad Qandil said on Monday that his country is negotiating purchase of S-300 air defense systems from Russia.

“It is possible that Iraq will buy the systems,” Qandil said.

He noted that Iraq was seeking to diversify its weapons imports, adding that Baghdad had arms-transfer agreements with Moscow.

Iraq’s Parliament Security and Defense Committee chairman previously sought to purchase the Russian systems but talks were stalled amid sanctions threats from Washington.

Iraq has expanded its defense cooperation with Russia in recent years with increased purchases of Russian aircraft and tanks. 

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