Saudi Arabia could soon buy Russia's most advanced air-defense system in an effort to contain the regional ambitions of Iran, Agence France-Presse reported yesterday (see GSN, Jan. 9, 2008).
Purchasing the Russian S-400 would bolster Saudi Arabia's defenses against attack, but it could also discourage Moscow from selling the less advanced S-300 system to Tehran, according to diplomats in the Middle East. Some analysts have expressed concern that Iran could use the S-300 to help protect its nuclear sites from airstrikes (see related GSN story, today).
"The Saudis would rather this weapon system not be sold to Iran or Syria," said Theodore Karasik, research director at the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis in Dubai.
"The Saudis see [the S-400 sale] as a way to get the Russians to be a back channel to Iran," Karasik said, suggesting that the procurement could help Riyadh press Russia to adopt a harder line on Iran's disputed nuclear activities (Paul Handley, Agence France-Presse/Google News, Oct. 1).