In the wake of the tentatively agreed upon Iranian nuclear agreement in which Iran will limit its nuclear capabilities and research while having international economic sanctions eased, Russia has lifted its ban of S-300 missile systems (a defensive, surface-to-air missile system) on the Middle Eastern nation.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, “We are convinced that at this stage, there’s no more need of such an embargo, Russia’s separate voluntary embargo,” in a statement to Tass, a Russian news organization. In short, Russia feels the new trade sanctions to be imposed on Iran, should the nuclear proposal be finalized and approved by the June deadline, make additional sanctions from outside of the agreement unnecessary.

Russia and Iran say they have only defensive purposes and cannot be used in offensive pursuits. While the surface-to-air missiles can only be used in defense, the missile systems could be used to defend Iranian nuclear facilities should the United States, it’s allies or any other nation decide to attempt to destroy the facilities by means of airstrike.

Israeli Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz released a statement regarding the pending sales to Iran, saying “Even as Iran disavows article after article in the framework agreement that was announced last week, the international community is beginning to ease restrictions on it. This is the direct result of the legitimacy that Iran is receiving from the nuclear deal being made with it.”

Israeli leadership has been critical of the Iranian nuclear deal from the very start of the talks, most powerfully evidenced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s irregular visit to Congress in which he expressed his critical view of the proposed agreement.

For its part, the United States has also criticized the move. State Department officials said in a press conference that it is not “constructive at this time for Russia to move forward with this.” This development could lead to increased tension among all involved parties when the United States, Iran, Russia and other international powers meet again on April 21 to work out the finer details of the nuclear deal.

Russia and Iran may have become fast friends due to Russia’s recent economic troubles brought on by sharp drops in oil prices. Iran has the resources and therefore the potential to be a major exporter. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Iran has the world’s fourth largest crude oil reserves and the second largest natural gas reserves, but the strict international sanctions have hit the Iranian oil industry hard.

This potential quid pro quo arrangement leaves both nations better off, but gives other world leaders, especially in the United States, reason for concern. Iran is fully within its rights to purchase the missile defense systems, but the framework of the deal relies heavily on the West’s ability to strictly monitor Iran’s nuclear program. Obviously the insertion of an advanced surface-to-air defense system makes that a much more difficult task. Additionally, the United States rather enjoys a struggling Russian economy that cannot easily assert its influence internationally due to domestic concerns.

This maneuvering by Russia and Iran is troublesome, but falls completely within all current sanctions, so the United States will either have to live with this new reality or discuss the use of the missile systems with Iran when nuclear talks continue next week. All of the progress that could be made for international safety, cooperation and Middle Eastern stability will be for not if Iran can sidestep or otherwise ignore every new restriction.

In these situations, compromise is necessary and inevitable, but the importance of these talks and their potential outcome are worth doing the hard work that comes along with diplomacy, and we must always bear in mind that any peaceful solution is preferable to the violent alternative.