American Senators Call for Sanctions Against Rosoboronexport

13.06.2012 Defense committee of the US Senate asked Pentagon to impose sanctions against Russian arms exporting company Rosoboronexport, writes Kommersant on June 13. The letter asking to revise contracts with Rosoboronexport was addressed to the US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta by John Kornin, member of the Senate's defense committee.

In that way senators reacted on a report made by US National Intelligence Council stating that Rosoboronexport continues cooperation with Iran despite the arms embargo. In particular, the Russian company was allegedly transferring technologies that Iran would possibly use in ballistic missile production under the veil of commercial satellite launching equipment.

Authors of the report submitted to senators believe that Iran develops nuclear warhead delivery vehicles under cover of space program and has almost acquired long-range missiles. The question is Simorgh carrier rocket allegedly capable to bring a 100-kg spacecraft to the 500-km orbit. According to the document, international agreements prohibit export of delivery vehicles and their components with flight altitude exceeding 300 km.

As for the report, creation of such missile would be impossible without third countries which afforded appropriate equipment and technologies to Iranian government. According to the US National Intelligence Council, it is Rosoboronexport that may offer such technologies since this company plaid a key role in implementation of the Iran's space program.

However, the report says that Russian authorities unlikely back up Iranian missile program. Cooperation of Rosoboronexport with Iran indicates that Russian government can neither control activities of state-led companies nor hinder illegal transactions.

In March 2012, senators suggested Pentagon to tear up a contract with Rosoboronexport on helicopters for Afghanistan due to continuing exports of Russian arms to Syria. However, Pentagon did not break the contract with the Russian company.

American experts say the Pentagon will ignore senators' call for breaking up ties with Rosoboronexport again, reported Kommersant. As was reported late in the last week, US Department of Defense considers possibility to sign another contract with Rosoboronexport for Russian-made munitions to equip US Army and police.

In 2006 and 2008, the US imposed sanctions against Rosoboronexport because the company allegedly broke an internal law prohibiting military-related cooperation with Iran. Rosoboronexport interpreted actions of the Americans as an unfair competition. In May 2010, the US lifted sanctions from the company.