Senior IRGC Commander Claims Purchase of Sukhoi 35 Jets from Russia

Ali Shadmani, a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and deputy coordinator of the Central Headquarters of Khatam al-Anbiya, claimed on Tuesday, January 27, that the Islamic Republic has purchased Sukhoi 35 fighter jets from Russia. The Persian section of Voice of America has contacted the U.S. Department of State and the National Security Council at the White House regarding this matter and will inform its audience as soon as a response is received. This is the first time an official from the Islamic Republic has confirmed the purchase of Sukhoi 35 jets. Shadmani, who announced this news in an interview with the Student News Agency, did not mention the number of Russian fighter jets purchased or the timeline for their delivery to Iran. The Tasnim news agency, close to the IRGC, had reported about two months ago that Tehran and Moscow had finalized arrangements for the purchase of Russian fighter jets. Earlier this month, the Islamic Republic and Russia emphasized the development of military-technical cooperation by signing a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement. The United States views military and arms cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia as detrimental and destabilizing for Iran's neighbors and has imposed sanctions in response. In another part of his statements, Shadmani claimed that only 'a number of air defense systems' were damaged in Israeli attacks, which have resumed operations after being replaced with new systems. This comes as Israel targeted over 20 military positions, mainly related to the Islamic Republic's air defense, in four provinces: Tehran, Semnan, Ilam, and Khuzestan, in a 'precise and targeted' operation involving at least 100 fighter jets on November 5. According to Tony Radakin, the Chief of Defence Staff of the UK, this attack 'almost completely destroyed the Iranian regime's air defense system' and eliminated the regime's ability 'to produce ballistic missiles for a year.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also stated that the retaliatory attack on November 5 against the Islamic Republic's positions not only impacted parts of Iran's defensive and missile capabilities but also struck parts of its nuclear program.