Iran has completed the purchase of Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets and expects to receive them after the current war with the US ends, the Army’s spokesman said in an interview with Iranian media.
Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, spokesman for the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, told the Tabnak news site in a joint interview with BitRun on Saturday that the Army completed preparatory work on the deal years earlier.
“The issue of the Su-35 has been raised for several years. We had already done the necessary work several years ago,” he said.
“The preliminary work that needed to be done was completed — both the purchase and the signing of the contracts, which were handled by the relevant bodies outside the Army, and the pilot training, for which the necessary work was also completed. There was no problem in that regard.”
Akraminia said the fighter jets had been scheduled to arrive before fighting began at the end of February.
“These aircraft were supposed to arrive before the war,” he said. “God willing, we will definitely receive these aircraft after the war and upgrade our fleet.”
He described the acquisition as part of a broader modernization effort.
“One of our programs is to bring advanced aircraft such as the Su-35 into our armaments,” he said. “We have also made progress domestically. Purchasing equipment from abroad will bring us closer to advanced technologies.”
“God willing, the Army’s air fleet will appear after the war with more power and equipped with more advanced aircraft and equipment,” he added.
Akraminia also said in the interview that a modern air force depends on ground radars, airborne radars and satellite systems.
“In the new architecture of the air force, these matters have been considered, and good work has also been done. These works complement each other. When you operate an advanced aircraft such as the Su-35, you must also have ground-based, airborne and satellite capabilities so that the aircraft can reach its full potential.”
He added: Iran was “ready and trained for war with America.”
Akraminia did not specify how many jets had been ordered or give a firm delivery timeline beyond “after the war.”
Iranian interest in the Su-35 has been reported for years.
In late 2022, Western intelligence assessments and Iranian media suggested Tehran could acquire roughly 24 aircraft originally built for Egypt after that deal collapsed under American pressure.
In December 2022, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Iranian pilots had begun training in Russia on the Su-35 and that deliveries could begin within the year as part of an “unprecedented” level of Russian military-technical support.
Kirby described the relationship as becoming a “full-fledged defense partnership” that posed a threat not only to Ukraine but to Iran’s neighbors.
In November 2023, Iran’s deputy defense minister, Mehdi Farahi, told the Tasnim news agency that arrangements had been finalized for Su-35s, Mi-28 attack helicopters and Yak-130 trainers to join Army units. Russia did not publicly confirm the statement.
The first Yak-130 advanced trainers arrived in Iran later that year. One of them was even shot down by an Israeli F-35, but the pilot ejected and was rescued.
In January 2025, IRGC Brigadier General Ali Shadmani, then deputy coordinator of the Khatam-ol-Anbia Central Headquarters, confirmed a purchase of Su-35s.
“Whenever necessary, we make military purchases to strengthen our air, land, and naval forces,” he said.
He gave no numbers and did not say whether Iran had received any aircraft. That same month, Iran and Russia signed a comprehensive strategic partnership pledging to expand “military-technical cooperation” without listing specific weapons.
Multiple media reports and assessments have claimed Iran would get between 24 and 48 Su-35s, but there was never an official confirmation either from Tehran or from Moscow.
S-400 For Iran?
Not only Su-35, but Iran is also believed to be exploring Russian S-400 ‘Triumpf’ Air Defense Systems.
Earlier reports, including those by The Washington Post, noted Iran’s interest in acquiring S-400s. In 2024, an Iranian delegation visited a Russian defense plant where they examined the production of various air defense systems, including the S-400.
The S-400, known for its ability to detect and destroy a range of aerial threats, possibly including stealth aircraft, could greatly boost Iran’s defensive capabilities, which have been badly exposed in the current conflict.
While there is no official confirmation, US and Israeli sources have repeatedly warned about Tehran’s interest in acquiring the cutting-edge defense system.
Combining the capabilities of the S-400s and Su-35—when used effectively—could greatly boost Iranian military might and pose stiff challenges to adversaries.
It is worth adding that the Indian military has been highly impressed with the S-400s, and many experts called it the ‘Star’ of the May 2025 conflict with Pakistan.
Just retired IAF chief praised the S-400s during the clash with Pakistan and said: “We have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW&C aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometers. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about.”
Calling the Russian-made S-400 a “game-changer”, he added: “Our air defense systems did a wonderful job. The S-400 system, which we recently bought, has been a game-changer. The range of that system has really kept their aircraft away from their weapons, like long-range glide bombs. They have not been able to use any of those because they have not been able to penetrate the system.”
For now, Iran appears to be heading towards acquiring Su-35s; however, the buzz about the S-400s is much less, which means it’s not an impending acquisition.
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