Iran has reportedly finalized arrangements for the delivery of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters, and Yak-130 jet trainers, according to Iran’s deputy Defence Minister Mehdi Farahi.
The announcement comes as part of the growing military cooperation between Iran and Russia. The Air Force of Iran currently has a limited number of strike aircraft, including Russian and aging U.S. models acquired before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Farahi stated that plans have been completed for the integration of these new aircraft into the combat units of Iran’s Army. However, the report from Tasnim news agency did not include any confirmation from Russian authorities regarding the deal.
It’s worth noting that in 2018, Iran claimed to have started production of the locally-designed Kowsar fighter, which military experts believed to be a replica of the U.S.-produced F-5 from the 1960s.
The recent announcement suggests Iran’s continued efforts to modernize and enhance its air force capabilities through acquisitions from foreign partners, particularly Russia.
Israeli and U.S. Intelligence Chiefs Meet Qatari PM to Discuss Building on Gaza Truce
In another development, the heads of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel’s Mossad held talks with Qatar’s prime minister in Doha to build on the extended truce between Israel and Hamas.
The meeting aimed to advance discussions on the humanitarian pause agreement and explore possibilities for the next phase of a potential deal. The outcome of the talks, involving CIA Director William Burns, Mossad’s David Barnea, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, remains unclear.
The discussions, which included Egyptian officials, focused on the Israel-Hamas conflict and hostage-related matters. The meeting occurred a day after Qatar announced a two-day extension of the original four-day truce deal in Gaza. Qatar has been leading negotiations between Hamas and Israel.
The truce brought relief to Gaza after seven weeks of heavy Israeli bombardment in response to a violent incident on October 7 by Hamas gunmen. The conflict has resulted in casualties, and ongoing negotiations involve the release of hostages by Hamas and detainees by Israel.
