Washington obstructed Iraq’s purchase of Russian S-400 system: Iraqi lawmaker

BAGHDAD, Oct. 22 (YPA) – An Iraq parliamentarian has accused the United States of America of having stood against the Iraqi government’s intention to purchase the Russian S-400 air defense system.

“Iraq was supposed to contract with Russia to buy the air defense system (S-300) and (S-400), but it was the American authorities who stood against this trend,” said Mohammed Karim, a representative for ‘Al-Fateh Alliance’ in the Iraqi parliament, in a statement on Wednesday to “Iraqi Information” news agency.

Karim pointed out that “America explicitly rejects Iraq’s possession of an advanced air defense system,” adding that America did not offer any alternatives to the Russian air defense system.

He noted that the Minister of Defense had contracted with a number of countries to buy weapons and mechanisms, but “those contracts are free of the air defense system until now.”

Earlier, the Iraqi Minister of Defense, Jumah Anad, went with Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi to France, Germany and Britain to contract with those countries regarding the purchase of weapons to strengthen the capabilities of the Iraqi army.

YPA