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Iran’s Army spokesman says the country has completed the purchase of Russian Su-35 fighter jets, but the aircraft will be received only once the war is over. It is the first direct army comment on a deal that has been rumored in Iranian media for years.
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Akraminia made the remarks in an interview with Tabnak and BitRun. Shahrara News described his comments as the army’s first official reaction to the speculation.
The outlet quoted him as saying the preliminary work was done, including the purchase and the contract, which were handled by relevant bodies outside the army. He added that pilot training was also complete and that the aircraft had been due to arrive before the war, according to Fararu.
Akraminia also confirmed speculation that the army air force has AWACS aircraft, saying a modern air force depends on ground and airborne radar and on satellite capability. Iran International reported that he said the army is also pursuing airborne radar, satellites and fifth-generation fighters. The same report says he disputed the reported US death toll of 13 and claimed Iran had relied entirely on domestically produced weapons in its two recent wars.
Persian-language outlets stressed that no jets have arrived. Bartarinha, citing Fararu, headlined that Russia had not delivered the Su-35 to Iran. It also noted that some state-broadcaster analysts had earlier claimed the jet had entered the country.
Iranian state media announced in March 2023 that Tehran had agreed a Su-35 purchase, and a deputy defense minister said in November 2023 that delivery arrangements were final. The exact number of jets and the delivery schedule have never been officially announced.
In January 2025, Revolutionary Guards general Ali Shadmani said Iran had completed the purchase, according to Reuters and TASS. Leaked documents reported by Khabar Online in 2025 pointed to 48 jets for Iran, with full delivery between 2026 and 2028. Roozno, citing Military Watch Magazine, reported that a Russian plant had completed the first 20 aircraft.
Earlier rumors of arrivals have collapsed before. Tasnim itself called a widely shared 2023 video of a “Su-35 landing in Iran” fake. In 2025, an MP’s vague remarks about incoming Russian jets were widely circulated, though the Kremlin has never publicly agreed to a deal.
Khabar Online also reported that Moscow had declined to supply the jets because of unwritten understandings with Israel. Former negotiator Hossein Mousavian wrote in 2025 that Russia gave Iran neither Su-35s nor S-400s despite years of threats against it.
Shahre Khabar earlier reported Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov saying Russia has no restrictions on military-technical cooperation with Iran and is meeting its needs. That report was published roughly a year ago and does not mention the Su-35 specifically.
By the spokesman’s account, any Su-35 arrival would come only after the fighting ends, so the jets would not be available to Iran’s current fleet if strikes resumed.
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