Iran in talks over $10bn arms deal with Russia, inks pact with China

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia and Iran are in talks over an arms deal worth around $10 billion that would see Moscow deliver T-90 tanks, artillery systems, planes and helicopters to Tehran, a senior Russian senator said on Monday, November 14, the RIA news agency said.

As Reuters reports, Viktor Ozerov, head of the defense and security committee in the Russian upper house of parliament, or Federation Council, told reporters talks on the potential deal were under way during a parliamentary visit to Iran, RIA said.

In another move, Iran and China have signed an agreement to hold joint military drills and cooperate in fighting terrorism, the Islamic Republic's state TV says, according to the Associated Press.

Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Hossein Dehghan signed the agreement Monday along with his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan.

In addition to the joint military training exercises, the report said that Iran and China seek to "create a collective movement to confront this threat" of terrorism.

The two nations have upgraded their military ties in recent years, with each country's naval ships visiting the other's ports.