Ignoring U.N. sanctions and the U.S. proposed “nuclear deal,” Vladimir Putin authorized a controversial delivery of sophisticated surface to air missiles to Iran. The S-300 air defense systems could be used to protect future nuclear missile launch sites. Putin gave the go ahead with delivery to begin “promptly.” Iran is expecting delivery this year.

This also sets a deadline for Israel to conduct a preemptive strike. Israel has always treated such missile systems as a “red line.” Unlike President Obama, Israel doesn’t play with countries crossing their “red lines.” They have led air strikes into Syria to take out similar systems before they are fully operational.

Putin signed the authorization to “unfreeze” the hold on $800 million dollars worth of S-300 anti-aircraft defense platforms to Iran. He also signed a $20 billion dollar “goods for oil” deal with Tehran. He authorized the delivery of five squadrons of these systems immediately. The original contract was to start delivery in 2010 but was “frozen” under pressure from the U.S. and Israel, as well as U.N. sanctions.

According to Russian media, the signing by Putin “lifts the ban on transit through Russian territory, including airlift, and the export from the Russian Federation to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also the transfer to the Islamic Republic of Iran outside the territory of the Russian Federation, both by sea and by air, of air defense missile systems S-300.”

Russia is calling the S-300 platforms “harmless.” There are several videos of the systems online that show just how “harmless” these mobile missile platforms can be.