Iran has filed a complaint against Russia to the International Court of Arbitration over Moscow's refusal to deliver S-300 air defense systems to the Islamic Republic, local English language satellite Press TV reported on Wednesday.

"The International Court of Arbitration in Paris settles international commercial disputes, and since the Russian company (responsible for the S-300 contract) is nongovernmental, we filed a complaint to the court in order to ask for compensation for our losses," chairman of Iran-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Committee Mehdi Sanaei told Press TV.

According to the report, the 800-million-US dollar deal was signed in 2005 and Iran made an initial payment of 166.8 million U. S. dollars to receive 65 S-300 anti-aircraft defense systems by 2007.

Last Thursday, Russia Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich told the Interfax news agency that Iran's decision to file a lawsuit against Russia at the International Court over Moscow's refusal to ship S-300 air defense systems to Tehran surprised Moscow.

"Judging from the traditionally friendly bilateral relations, it is surprising that our Iranian partners opted for such a way," Lukashevich was quoted as saying.

Mahmoud Reza Sajjadi, Iran's ambassador to Moscow, said last Wednesday Tehran sued against Russia at the International Court since Moscow refused to supply Iran with the missile defense systems.

Lukashevich suggested that Iran should try to solve the dispute by direct dialogue, stressing that Moscow acted in accordance with United Nations (UN) resolution.

"Russia was unable to fulfill the corresponding contract in connection with the UN Security Council's resolution 1929 and Russian president's decree 1154 signed in September 22, 2010," Lukashevich said.

Sajjadi, meanwhile, insisted that the S-300 shipment does not fall under the resolution, which prohibits the sale of conventional weapons, including missiles, tanks, military helicopters, warplanes and warships, to Iran.

Iran and Russia inked the S-300 system contract in 2007. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed in September 2010 a decree banning shipments to Iran of the weapons and equipment listed in the UN resolution.