Russia has begun delivering S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran, Russian state news agency Tass quoted the arms trade adviser to President Vladimir Putin as saying on Thursday.

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Vladimir Kozhin said the implementation of the contract for the delivery of the S-300s has begun and the deliveries have started. He didn't provide any specifics.

Russia in 2010 froze a deal to supply advanced long-range S-300 missile systems to Iran, linking the decision to UN sanctions. Putin lifted the suspension earlier this year following Iran's deal with six world powers that curbed its nuclear program in exchange for relief from international sanctions. Officials said last month that Russia and Iran finalized the contract for their delivery.

In November of this year, Putin visited Iran for the first time since 2007, meeting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hasan Rouhani. (Photo: AFP)

S-300 missiles, which are being delivered to Iran from Russia. (Photo: AP)

Their discussions focused on how they could assist Syrian President Bashar Assad in the civil war raging in his country, as well as trade in missiles between the two countries.

The S-300 deal has long worried Israel and other countries in the region, as well as the US, which see it as destabilizing. Israel claims that the Iranians could transfer the missiles to Lebanon and Syria, which could then use them against the Israeli Air Force.

Kuwait's A-Ra News has previously reported that Syria had also received S-300 missiles from Russia.