Russia to deliver dozens of Su-35 fighters to Iran soon - reports
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Russia will be supplying Iran with a squadron of the Russian flagship Su-35, stepping up the cooperation between the two nations.
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The Russian Su-35 Sukhoi fighter jet
Russia will soon be providing Iran with a complete squadron of Su-35 fighters in the near future, reports have said on Wednesday, marking a new era in Russian-Iranian cooperation as the West keeps trying to isolate the two nations through unilateral sanctions.
Military experts have said that Iran will soon be receiving 24 units of the fourth-generation Russian flagship fighter jet designed for air superiority and enjoys a twin-engine with high maneuverability.
Some of the aircraft Russia is giving Iran will be used by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF)'s Tactical Air Base in Isfahan.
The Su-35 fighter "combines the qualities of a modern fighter (super-maneuverability, superior active and passive acquisition aids, high supersonic speed and long range, capability of managing battle group actions, etc.) and a good tactical airplane (wide range of weapons that can be carried, modern multi-channel electronic warfare system, reduced radar signature, and high combat survivability)," Russia's United Aircraft Corporation said.
This is the first time that Iran acquires new fighter aircraft in decades, with the exception of several MiG-29 Fulcrum's Tehran bought back in the 1990s.
The IRIAF currently uses the MiG-29 from Russia 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.
Ever since Iran gained complete autonomy following its 1979 revolution, the country has been the target of unjust and excruciating sanctions from the West.
Despite this, Iran managed to gain almost 100% military self-sufficiency in the production of drones.
Although Iran offered to help the EU with its energy needs, the bloc has instead aimed at sabotaging the country by sending spies and foreign agents and commissioning dissidents to disrupt the country's civil order.
Additionally, this comes as the permanent representatives of EU countries earlier in the month agreed on the ninth package of sanctions against Russia. The EU has already imposed eight waves of unprecedented anti-Russia sanctions since the start of the Ukraine war in February, including targeting Russian key oil exports.
After the adoption of several packages of sanctions against Moscow by the West, western sanctions backfired, having detrimental effects on the world's global markets, most notably gas and oil. European governments are now suffering the repercussions of their sanctions amid rising strikes and protests over the cost of living and pay.
Despite the isolation and marginalization, CIA Director William Burns pointed out in mid-December 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.
He claimed that this relationship is "already having an impact on the battlefield in Ukraine," warning that "it can have an even more dangerous impact on the Middle East as well if it continues."
"What's beginning to emerge is at least the beginnings of a full-fledged defense partnership between Russia and Iran."
Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly claimed that "sordid deals" between Russia and Iran are threatening global security.
In a press release published on the website of the UK government, Cleverly accused Iran of providing Russia with hundreds of drones to use in Ukraine, adding that Tehran "is now one of Russia’s top military backers."
He also claimed that Russia is offering military and technical support to the Iranian government, which will "increase the risk it poses to our partners in the Middle East and to international security."
"The UK will continue to expose this desperate alliance and hold both countries to account," Cleverly said.
The press release read that "the UK is concerned that Russia intends to provide Iran with more advanced military components, allowing the regime to strengthen their weapons capability."
It is noteworthy that the Russian-Iranian cooperation is worrying the Israeli occupation, as Israeli media reported that the military intelligence directorates in the Israeli occupation are currently highly concerned over the Russian-Iranian military and security cooperation.
Reports made by intelligence agencies, Israeli media said, are talking about a bilateral agreement to manufacture hundreds of military UAVs in Moscow and the export of advanced air defense systems from Russia to Iran.
