JERUSALEM — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev promised to reconsider the sale of air defence missiles to Iran, Shimon Peres said.

Speaking at the end of a state visit to Russia on Aug. 19, the Israeli president said that Medvedev “opposes the existence of nuclear weapons in Iran and has made an unambiguous promise that Russia will not sell weapons that may harm the balance of power in the Middle East.”

Russia and Iran reportedly signed a contract in 2005 for the sale of Russia’s sophisticated S-300 air defence system. The United States has objected to the sale. Russia says no systems have yet been delivered to Iran, according to reports.

The system could thwart an Israeli strike on Iran’s uranium enrichment plant at Natanz, which is reported to be close to producing a nuclear weapon.