Media wires are buzzing over conflicting reports on whether Russia will be (has been) supplying Iran with advanced surface-to-air missiles, a move, AP reports, "the US says could threaten American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan."

From the AP:

Both the U.S. and Israel have strongly opposed the sale, saying that supplying such an advanced anti-aircraft system to Iran would shift the military balance of power in the Middle East. It also would make any strike at Iran's first nuclear power plant — which Russia is helping to build — more difficult.

More difficult? According to the last line of the same story, it would actually make such a strike impossible:

The sale of S-300 missiles, said the military intelligence official, presents a decision point for Israel, since once the anti-aircraft system is in place it could deter any strike.

US response?

"We have repeatedly made clear at senior levels of the Russian government that we would strongly oppose the sale of the S-300," Wood said. "As the U.S. government has said before, this is not the time for business as usual with the Iranian government."

I hope, as he spoke, he riffled our new 18-page SOFA agreement with Iraq, highlighting Article 24, Paragraph 3, which says: "Iraq land, sea and air shall not be used as a launching pad or transit point for attacks against other countries."

That'll show 'em.