Russia and Saudi Arabia are currently holding “vital talks” on joint cooperation in military armament, Russian President’s Aide for Military and Technical Cooperation Vladimir Kozhin (photo) said.

Riyadh has a keen interest in cooperating with Moscow in the military-technical cooperation field, Kozhin stated to Interfax news agency, describing the Kingdom’s motives as “serious”.

Furthermore, he said that Russia is willing to provide Egypt with helicopters for the French Mistral-class helicopters carrier if it requested, adding that the Russian-Egyptian military and technical cooperation is “very close”.

On military cooperation with Iran, Kozhin excluded plans by his country to build arms manufacture in Iran, noting that the Russian-Iranian cooperation is based on armament systems allowed to be exported to Tehran.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s Defense Committee Esmayeel Kosari announced that Russia is loading the cargo of S-300 air defense system for delivery to Iran, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.

“Under the contract signed between Tehran and Moscow, Iran wants the S-300 missile system and as far as we know, the cargo has been loaded by Moscow for delivery to Iran,” Kosari said earlier this week.

Asked if Iran is also interested in purchasing the Russian S-400 air defense system, he said: “At the moment, the contract between Iran and Russia is related to the S-300 missile defense shield, and if there is a need for a more advanced missile system in the future, we will take the necessary measures.”

Last Thursday, Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said Tehran would soon announce the dates of Russian S-300 air defense system deliveries.

“The contract on the delivery of S-300 systems has been signed. The delivery time will be announced in the near future,” Firouzabadi said.