A senior commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced on Monday that the country has acquired Russian-made Sukhoi-35 fighter jets, marking the first official confirmation of the purchase.

Ali Shadmani, quoted by the Student News Network, did not specify the number of jets acquired or their delivery status.

Shadmani stated, “Whenever necessary, we make military purchases to strengthen our air, land, and naval forces,” adding that the production of military equipment has also accelerated.

He issued a warning to Israel, Iran’s regional adversary, saying, “If the enemy acts foolishly, it will taste the bitter taste of being hit by our missiles, and none of its interests in the occupied territories will remain safe.”

In November 2023, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that arrangements for the purchase of the Russian fighter jets had been finalized.

Iran and Russia formalised a comprehensive strategic partnership, which emphasized enhancing their “military-technical cooperation” but did not explicitly mention arms transfers.

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Iran’s air force currently operates a limited fleet of strike aircraft, including older US models obtained before the 1979 Islamic Revolution and a few Russian jets.