MOSCOW [MENL] -- Iran is expected to sign a major weapons contract with
Russia as early as this week.Russian defense sources said the contract will be signed during the
visit by Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani. Shamkhani arrives in Moscow
later this week for a four-day visit and is expected to complete the final
details of a weapons deal.The sources said the weapons contract will be a phased deal that could
amount to $1.5 billion. They said the agreement will mostly concern upgrades
of air and land platforms as well as strategic weapons.Moscow and Teheran are expected to sign a separate accord that will
concern Iran's nuclear reactor project at Bushehr. Russia plans to
accelerate the Bushehr project so it can be completed by 2004.But Iranian sources said Shamkhani has delayed his trip to Wednesday to
avoid being in Moscow during the scheduled visit by Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon. Sharon arrives on Monday to discuss a range of cooperation,
including Israel's demand for the reduction of Moscow's strategic aid to
Iran. The discussion is expected to focus on Iran's transfer of nuclear
technology."During his visit, the two sides will discuss forging of a defense,
military and technical cooperation based on each country's national laws as
well as international conventions," Iranian Defense Ministry spokesman
Keivan Khosravi said.
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