Iran is to receive around 24 Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia. Military pilots from the largely isolated state are currently said to be training in the Russian Federation to prepare for the handover and transfer.

The machines, which are now to be delivered to Iran's armed forces, were originally ordered by Egypt in 2018. However, the African country canceled the order, but according to Russian media, the 24 fighter jets are said to have already been built or largely completed. According to information from NBC News, the training of Iranian pilots on the Sukhoi Su-35 type has been running since spring 2022.

In the course of the Russian-initiated war against Ukraine, it also became known that Iran had supplied numerous drones to the army of the Russian Federation. The cooperation between the two countries is viewed critically by Western governments. There are fears, among other things, that Iran could rearm massively.

There is no reliable information about the exact modalities of the agreements between the Russian Federation and Iran. However, it is suspected that there is no money for the delivery of the fighter jets, but instead could be paid for in the form of other armaments. The acquisition of the 24 Su-35 fighter jets would massively rejuvenate Iran's aging air force.