Russia's decision to go ahead with the sale of the advanced S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Iran has angered its critics in the West and alarmed the Israeli government in equal measure.
For some it has raised additional question-marks over the fate of any putative nuclear deal between Iran and the international community.
But more significantly it may also mark a renewed effort by Moscow to bolster its diplomatic profile in the Middle East.
The decision to sell the S-300 to Iran is not new, the contract goes back to at least the latter part of 2010.
But for a variety of reasons - concern about Iran's nuclear activities and with intense lobbying from Israel and the West - the Russians never went ahead and delivered the system.
It is not yet clear exactly which version of the S-300 will be sold to Iran.
It is no longer the most sophisticated of Russia's air defences, but it is nonetheless a highly capable system and much better than those the Israelis and Western air forces have faced in the region during recent campaigns.
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