Western intelligence sources who monitor security deals between Iran and Russia say Moscow will soon provide a full squadron of fighter jets to the Islamic Republic.
It will apparently be 24 Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, originally produced for Egypt under a deal that was torpedoed by the United States. The Russians were looking for buyers for the unsold surplus, and it looks like Tehran will be getting those planes very soon. According to an intelligence report, Iranian pilots are already training on these planes.
The Iranian Air Force is in need of high-quality fighter jets. They currently rely on American-made jets from the 1970s from the period before the 1979 Islamic revolution.
So far, Iran has supplied 1,700 suicide drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine, and expects to supply 300 more in the near future. In return, Tehran should receive air defense systems from Moscow which will be put into service in anticipation of a possible Israeli attack.
Israel considers that these agreements could constitute an opportunity for it, insofar as finally the Iranian intentions would be clear - much more even than its violations of the nuclear agreement. However, there is concern in Jerusalem over the ability for Israel to attack Iranian targets in Syria as Russia controls the neighboring country's airspace and has until now has allowed Israeli attacks to take place.
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