Russia's threat to supply the sophisticated S-300 air defense system to Iran,if Washington pushes through Nato membership for Georgia and Ukraine is causing great alarm in Israel and the United States. The advanced air defense system would enable Iran to lock in on 100 targets at once and fire on planes upto 120 kilometers away.

According to the report that appeared in The Sunday Telegraph if indeed Russia goes ahead with its plans it will greatly improve Iran's defense against any attempts to target its nuclear sites.

George Friedman the director of Stratfor a leading US private intelligence agency was quoted in the newspaper saying "the message from Moscow is very clear. They are saying if you don't stop meddling in our sphere of influence , that is what we are going to do."

Moscow has been angered by Nato's encroachment into the former Sovier bloc  and after the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia and America's condemnation of Russia, Moscow deliberately invited Syria's President Bashar Assad to Moscow to discuss bilateral military ties, sending a signal to  Washington that if it chooses to continue on its path Russia is capable of causing alot of trouble, the report said.

The newspaper noted that a senior US intelligence operative who recently returned from the Middle East said Russia is believed to have struck a tentative deal with the Islamic Republic, and that basic components for the advanced air defense system have already been transferred to Belarus in preparation for the trip to Teheran.

The issue is expected to be raised during Prime Minister Ehud Olmer'ts upcoming visit to Moscow this month. Friedman noted that the system takes up to a year to become operational, but that once that occurs, it will effectively rule out Israeli air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and complicate any US air strikes.08/31/08