Israel criticises Russia's supply of S-300 missiles to Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday slammed Russia's decision to supply S-300 defense missile system to Iran.

"Israel views with utmost gravity the supply of S-300 missiles from Russia to Iran, especially at a time when Iran is stepping up its aggression in the region and around the borders of the State of Israel," Netanyahu said at the opening of his weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu addressed an Iranian display on Saturday of the domestically-manufactured Bavar-373, a missile defense system capable of hitting air targets at a high altitude.

Teheran decided to develop the long-range missiles after Russia postponed the sale Iran the S-300 system five years ago.

Sending a warning message to Iran, Israel's hardliner prime minister vowed that his country "will do whatever is necessary to defend the security of the state and its citizens."

Last Monday, Russian President Putin signed a decree lifting the ban on shipping S-300 defense missiles to Iran.

A day later, Netanyahu spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a failed attempt to persuade him to cancel the deal.

Israeli defense officials believe that the system would help Iran defend itself against a possible future airstrike on its nuclear facilities.