Iran Press/ Asia: Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey still intended to buy a second batch of S-400 missile defense systems from Russia, a move that could deepen a rift with NATO ally Washington and trigger fresh US sanctions.
Turkey, a NATO member, was kicked out of the F-35 fighter jet program and Turkish defense officials were sanctioned after Ankara bought the S-400 system in 2019.
The United States says the use of Russian systems within NATO poses a threat to F-35s.
For its part, Turkey says the S-400s could be used independently without being integrated into NATO systems. Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the US news channel CBS that Turkey has not been given the option to buy American-made Patriot missiles.
The US imposed sanctions on Turkey in December 2020 for the purchase of its first Russian missile system. The US has repeatedly warned that the acquirement of a second system would trigger fresh sanctions. 219
