On Monday, Abolfazl Zohrevand, a conservative Iranian MP and member of the National Security Committee, announced that Iran has taken delivery of a new batch of MiG-29 fighter jets from Russia. According to Zohrevand, the transfer of the Soviet-designed jets is intended as a short-term measure to strengthen Iran’s air defense capabilities while the country awaits delivery of more advanced systems.
The lawmaker added that Tehran is still in the process of acquiring Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, though those deliveries have been repeatedly delayed. In addition, Zohrevand revealed that Iran is pursuing advanced air defense systems such as Russia’s S-400 and is also considering China’s HQ-9 system as part of a long-term strategy to improve its layered defenses.
Iran first obtained MiG-29s from the Soviet Union in the late 1980s, later expanding its fleet with additional deliveries from Russia in the 1990s. Because of this history, the Iranian Air Force already has the infrastructure, trained pilots, and maintenance capabilities for the aircraft, making their integration into service relatively quick compared to newer platforms.
The announcement comes in the aftermath of Iran’s 12-day war with Israel in June, which exposed gaps in Tehran’s mostly domestically built air defense network. During that conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked that Moscow had previously offered to help Iran construct a system similar to Russia’s own, though Tehran declined during negotiations on their Strategic Partnership Agreement.
The Su-35 delivery, originally tied to aircraft that had been built for Egypt, has been delayed amid what analysts describe as Iranian indecision over procurement. However, the recent conflict with Israel and the possibility of further escalation appear to have shifted Tehran’s priorities toward acquiring both immediate stopgap solutions and long-term advanced systems.
Military flight trackers and regional observers have noted near-regular Russian cargo planes landing in Tehran since June, fueling speculation that Russia has been quietly transferring military equipment to Iran in support of its defense buildup.