Iran considers purchasing Su-35 fighter jets from Russia

Iran is weighing plans to buy Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, Air Force chief Hamid Vahedi was reported as saying by local media.

“The purchase of the Sukhoi 35 from Russia is being considered by the Air Force” of Iran, Vahedi told Borna news agency which is affiliated with the sports ministry, on September 4, per The Times of Israel.

It comes after the United States military said last week that Russia began receiving Iranian combat drones to be used in the Ukraine war, many of which have already proven faulty.

Both Iran and Russia are targeted by stringent sanctions — Iran after the US unilaterally pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in 2018, and Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February.

The two countries have responded to the sanctions by boosting cooperation in key areas to help prop up their economies.

Tehran and Moscow have for years been in talks for the purchase of Sukhoi 30 jets, a prospective deal that drew a sharp rebuke from Washington.

But Vahedi said on September 4 that “the purchase of Sukhoi 30s is not on the agenda.”

“We hope to acquire in the future the so-called fourth generation of Su-35 fighter jets,” he added.