Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Algerian Foreign Ministry: The Algerian President directs Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf to head to Niamey as soon as possible
Algerian Foreign Ministry: Niger’s acceptance of the Algerian initiative strengthens the option of a political solution to end the crisis
Algerian Foreign Ministry: Algeria received official approval from Niger concerning the Algerian mediation initiative to resolve the crisis
Armenia says Azerbaijani forces open fire in border region
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli Supreme Court decides to return the case of prisoner Kayed al-Fafsous to the Military Court of Appeals
Egyptian media, citing medical sources: Ambulances transported about 100 injuries to hospitals as a result of the Ismailia Security Directorate fire
Egyptian media: The number of people injured in the Ismailia Security Directorate fire has risen to 21 people, some of whom are in critical condition.
Turkey carried out air strikes in northern Iraq and destroyed 20 PKK targets: Turkish MoD
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Turkish warplanes carry out an air strike that targeted the Matin area in Dohuk, northern Iraq
Israeli media: The settlers wrote the word “revenge” in the site and uprooted dozens of olive trees

Iran finalizes deal to acquire Su-35s from Russia: UN Envoy

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 Mar 2023 23:37
  • 8 Shares
  • x

Iran finalizes a deal on buying Su-35 fighter jets from Russia after deliberations that have been ongoing for months.

  • In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, a pair of Russian Su-35 fighter jets fly in the sky in Russia, Sunday, November 28, 2021 (AP Photo)
    In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, a pair of Russian Su-35 fighter jets fly in the sky in Russia, Sunday, November 28, 2021 (AP Photo)

Iran has finalized a deal to purchase Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, Iran's mission to the United Nations told Russian news agency Sputnik, though they refused to disclose information on the number of aircraft and the timing of their delivery, as that is classified information.

"Following the end of the Iran-Iraq war in 1988, Iran asked a bunch of countries to buy fighter jets, and Russia said it was open to selling," the mission said.

"The SU-35 fighter jets are technically acceptable to Iran, so after October 2020 and the end of Iran's restrictions on conventional weapons purchases (UN Resolution 2231), Iran finalized the deal to buy them," Tehran's delegation added.

Moreover, the diplomatic mission did not specify when the deal was finalized exactly, nor how many fighter jets Russia would deliver to Iran and when.

"There are no details to be published because it's classified," the mission added.

It was reported in mid-March that Iran was expected to receive multiple Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia as early as March.

MP Shahriar Heidari told Tasnim news agency that alongside the fighter jets, Iran will also receive military equipment such as air defense systems, missile systems, and helicopters that they had previously ordered. Media has reported that 24 of the fourth-generation twin-engine, super-maneuverable Sukhoi fighter jets meant for air superiority missions are part of the package. 

In September, Iranian Army Air Force Commander Hamid Vahedi announced that the IRIAF is looking to purchase Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets. Even Turkey was considering the Su-35 as an alternative for the US-made F-16s in case of a fallout with the United States. 

Iran and Russia have been undertaking measures and agreements to boost their economic, trade, energy, and military cooperation. In December, CIA Director William Burns pointed out that the US was concerned about the growing cooperation between Russia and Iran and fears that it could eventually evolve into a full defense partnership.

This is the first time in decades that Iran has acquired new fighter aircraft, with the exception of several MiG-29 Fulcrum's Tehran bought back in the 1990s.

The IRIAF currently uses the Russian MiG-29 and modified F-4 Phantom IIs, F-14 Tomcats, and F-5E/F Tiger IIs from the United States, which Tehran had gotten from Washington under the US-backed Pahlavi regime.

Related News

Pentagon spreads itself too thin, budget to arm Ukraine drying out

Poland repairs first batch damaged Ukrainian Leopard tanks

The National Interest reported earlier in January that Tehran's potential purchase of dozens of Russian Su-35 aircraft would give an unprecedented boost to Tehran's control over its airspace, especially in case of an aerial military confrontation against the Israeli occupation.

In late December, some reports revealed that Russia will soon be providing Iran with a complete squadron of Su-35 fighters in the near future, marking a new era in Russian-Iranian cooperation as the West keeps trying to isolate the two nations through unilateral sanctions.

The Commander of Iran's Army Air Force Hamid Vahedi had announced that Iran is looking at purchasing Russian Su-35 fighter jets.

Despite some Western assessments tending to downplay Iran's potential acquisition of the aircraft, believing that it would not drastically change the airpower balance in the Gulf, the purchase "manifests a grim calculus for the West," the report suggested.

The article described the Su-35 as "a very lucrative catch" for Iran, as the aircraft is "a Russian 4.5th generation air-superiority fighter that has a better thrust-to-weight ratio than its predecessor, the Su-27," explaining that the platform is "capable of performing controlled maneuvers that would otherwise be impossible via regular aerodynamics."

In addition to the Su-35, The National Interest report claimed that Iran might be very close to purchasing an S-400 deal, which would "decidedly alter the risk assessment" of an Israeli occupation strike on Iran.

Read more: Russian aircraft firm masters production of Su-57s: Official

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday during a meeting with Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant that military cooperation between Russia and Iran bears negative repercussions for the Israeli occupation and the entire region of the Middle East.

"Secretary Austin provided updates to Minister Gallant on Russia's unprovoked war of choice in Ukraine. He noted the negative implications for Israel and the broader Middle East from increased military cooperation between Iran and Russia," the Pentagon said in a statement after the bilat in occupied Palestine.

Furthermore, according to the Pentagon statement, Austin highlighted that Tehran may gain battlefield experience with the kamikaze drones Russia is currently using.

Read more: Sanctions, blockade insufficient against Iran UAVs: National Interest

The repercussions of Russia transferring sophisticated military technology to Iran may be felt throughout the entire region, the senior US defense official added.

Despite the warnings about cooperation, the Israeli occupation discussed with the United States a bilateral defense partnership, including the JUNIPER OAK exercise, which was recently concluded between the two sides and had been attended by over 7,000 Israeli occupation forces and US troops. Meanwhile, the Pentagon said both parties agreed to continue cooperation in that area, i.e., the military sphere.

  • Russia
  • United Nations
  • Su-35
  • Iran

Most Read

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

  • Europe
  • 28 Sep 2023
Who Would Ally with the West: ‘It’s Boring – The Real Excitement is in Asia’

Who Would Ally with the West: ‘It’s Boring – The Real Excitement is in Asia’

  • Analysis
  • 30 Sep 2023
A Ukrainian soldier of the elite drone unit packs up after an attack on the front line in the outskirts of Kremennaya, Ukraine, Sunday, August 20, 2023 (AP)

Ukraine loses around 700 soldiers in one day: Russia MoD

  • Europe
  • 30 Sep 2023
US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

'Not 1 more cent': Americans are done with funding Ukraine's paychecks

  • Europe
  • 30 Sep 2023

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
Gebran Bassil, President of the Lebanese Free Patriotic Movement Party, Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Oct. 17, 2022 (AP)
MENA

Lebanon besieged, anti-Syria conspiracy defeated militarily: FPM chief

Syrian women and children walk after crossing the border into the northern town of Bukayaa, Lebanon, Friday, April 29, 2011 (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
MENA

Lebanese army stops 1,200 Syrian refugees from crossing into Lebanon

Sayyed Nasrallah
MENA

Resistance shall never abandon Al-Ghajar village: Sayyed Nasrallah

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS