Khaberni - Frequent flights of Russian military transport aircraft between Moscow and Tehran have raised widespread suspicions about Russia possibly supplying Iran with fighter jets and advanced air defense systems amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and increased military coordination between the sides.
The "Defense Security Asia" website reported that the Russian heavy cargo plane "Antonov AN-124 Ruslan", one of the largest military transport aircraft in the world, landed "mysteriously" several times at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran in the past weeks, the latest being last Sunday, without any official announcement from Moscow or Tehran.
Satellite images reveal unusual activity in Mehrabad
Satellite images have shown intense activity at the Iranian airport, including fuel trucks and cargo transport vehicles surrounded by elements of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, which has reinforced speculations on the delivery of sensitive military equipment.
The website mentioned that the flights originated from Russian airports linked to military facilities such as Irkutsk and Ulyanovsk, suggesting that these flights might have transported components of the "S-400 Triumph" air defense system and "Su-35 Flanker-E" fighters to Iran.
"S-400" and "Su-35".. A qualitative enhancement of Iran's defensive capabilities
The "S-400" system is one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles and stealth aircraft up to 400 kilometers away. Intelligence reports indicate that supplying Tehran with this system could expose it to new U.S. sanctions under the CAATSA law.
The Russian fighter "Su-35" features exceptional maneuverability and a combat range of 1600 kilometers, which will give Iran a qualitative leap in its air power.
Observers: "The Russian-Iranian military alliance enters a new phase"
Observers believe that the recent military flights indicate the entry of the Russian-Iranian alliance into a new phase of strategic military engagement, amid escalating competition between Moscow and Washington in the Middle East.
