Iran successfully test-fired a sophisticated Russian-made air defense system, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday. The report said the test of the S-300 system came during a recent military exercise named Damvand, the name of Iran's highest mountain. It said the test targeted various flying objects including missiles. With a range of up to 200 kilometers (125 miles) the S-300 is capable of simultaneously tracking and striking multiple targets. Russia delivered the S-300 system to Iran in 2016, nearly 10 years after the initial contract had been signed. Iran signed the $800 million contract to buy the S-300 missile system in 2007, but Russia suspended their delivery three years later because of strong objections from the United States and Israel. Air defense commander Gen. Farzad Esmaili told Iranian television that a domestically manufactured air defense system dubbed Bavar 373 which was "more advanced than the S-300"would be tested very soon. "The S-300 is a system that is deadly for our enemies and which makes our skies more secure,"he said. Iran's activation of the defense system comes amid mounting tensions with the new US administration of President Donald Trump, who imposed sanctions after Iran tested a medium-range ballistic missile in January. In August, state television aired footage of the system being installed around the Fordo nuclear site in a mountain near Qom, south of the capital. — Agencies
