WANA (Sep 23) – Abolfazl Zohrevand, member of Iran’s Parliament National Security Commission, announced that Russian MiG-29 fighter jets have entered Iran as a short-term solution, while Su-35 fighters will gradually be delivered for long-term needs.

 

In an interview, Zohrevand, a representative of Tehran in the 12th Parliament, emphasised that the MiG-29 jets are intended as an immediate measure, with the more advanced Su-35 aircraft arriving over time.

 

He also revealed that the HQ-9 missile defence system is set to be delivered in detail, and the S-400 system will arrive as well.

 

Military cooperation between Iran and Russia has long been a topic of discussion in Iran’s online space. During and after the 12-day conflict, these debates intensified, with many questioning why Russia had not supplied Iran with Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 air defence systems.

 

Earlier, Kazem Jalali, Iran’s ambassador to Russia, clarified that Iran has never formally requested the S-400 system from Moscow. He described such claims as completely false, noting that the Russian Foreign Ministry even issued a two-page protest challenging the sources of these rumours. Jalali added that inquiries made within the Iranian embassy and consultations with Russian military officials confirmed these allegations were unfounded.

 

However, recent statements from a member of Iran’s parliament suggest that Tehran is now planning to expand its military cooperation with Russia to enhance its defence capabilities, signalling a possible shift in the bilateral defence relationship.

MiG-29 jet

MiG-29 jet. Social media/ WANA News Agency