Iranian Air Force commander: The issue of the purchase of Russian Su-35 fighters will be resolved in the near future
Iran does not refuse to purchase Su-35 multifunctional fighters from Russia, the deal is on the agenda, but the final decision on this has not yet been made. This was stated by the commander of the Iranian Air Force, Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi.
As of today, Iran is not considering purchasing Su-30SM fighters from Russia, which has been repeatedly stated earlier, the priority is the purchase of multifunctional Su-35 fighters. This issue is under consideration and should be resolved in the near future, but at the moment there is no final decision.
Vahedi said.
The fact that Tehran intends to purchase an "Egyptian" batch of Su-35 fighters from Russia was discussed at the end of last year. Egypt, for which the planes were made, was forced to withdraw from the deal under pressure from the United States, and the fate of the fighters "hung in the air." Iran turned up just in time, which desperately needs a plane capable of withstanding the Israeli F-35I Adir, which, after modernization, received the opportunity to fly to Iran without refueling. According to Western experts, it is the Su-35 that is the only fighter capable of fighting the American F-35s. Therefore, now on the agenda of the Iranian Air Force is the purchase of the Su-35, and not the Su-30SM, which are much cheaper.
In early August, it was reported that Tehran allegedly signed a contract for Russian Su-35s back in July during a visit to Iran by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Then there was evidence that Russia had exchanged with Iran according to the scheme: "fighters on Drones". But no confirmation or denial has been received from either Moscow or Tehran. Judging by the statement of the commander of the Iranian Air Force, the deal has not yet taken place.
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