Iran to develop its own version of the S-300 missile air defence system.

Iranian commanders had earlier said that Bavar 373, that similar to its original Russian model traces and intercepts high-altitude targets, would come into operation this Iranian year (that started on March 21, 2015).

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday removed the ban on the delivery of the missile shield to Iran.

Following the announcement, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said "the decree came as an interpretation of the will of the two countries' political leaders to develop and promote cooperation in all fields".

Putin's decision was announced hours after relevant reports said the Kremlin also plans to supply China with the advanced S-400 air defense system air defense system.

On Wednesday April 15, Iranian Ground Force Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan underlined the country's air defense capabilities, and said the indigenously-made Bavar (Belief) 373 air missile shield enjoys the same features of its Russian peer, the S-300.

Speaking on the sidelines of the unveiling ceremony of the ground force's achievements, Pourdastan said that supplying Iran with the Russian S-300 missiles will boost the country's air defense power and it can hit the targets at higher altitudes.

"But of course, Iran's Air Defense Base has carried out great task in recent years, including the designing and manufacturing of Bavar 373 air defense missile system, which has the same capabilities as the Russian S-300," the Iranian commander further stressed.

In November 2011, Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli told reporters that the designing phase of the Iranian version of S-300 system had ended and the system would be developed and delivered to the country's integrated air defense network in a matter of few years.

He further said that the missile system, dubbed as Bavar (Belief) 373, is even more powerful and more advanced than the Russian S-300.

"Bavar 373 system is an important and completely indigenous achievement that can be a powerful rival for S-300," the commander reiterated.