12.10.2024, London.
Tehran is expected to seek assistance from Moscow in modernizing its armed forces, reported the British newspaper Financial Times on October 11.
Discussing the first meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his new Iranian counterpart Masud Pezeshkian, the publication suggests that Tehran will ask Moscow for help in upgrading its military to counter the threat of an attack from Israel.
Analysts cited by the publication claim that Iran is allegedly looking forward to acquiring Russian equipment such as the S-400 missile systems, electronic warfare (EW) systems, and fighter jets.
The meeting between Putin and Pezeshkian is taking place ahead of the expected signing of a strategic agreement between Russia and Iran, which is anticipated to occur at the summit in Kazan at the end of October. This agreement may include defense cooperation.
According to senior research fellow Siddharth Kaushal at the Royal United Services Institute in London, Tehran likely wants to obtain modern ground-to-air missiles from Russia, similar to the US Patriot system. Iranian military officials have previously confirmed that Iran also aims to replace its outdated fleet of fighter jets with Russian Sukhoi aircraft.
Russian air defense systems would make any Israeli attack on Iran riskier for all but the most advanced fighter jets, and the S-400’s 400 km range would also endanger the operation of refueling aircraft necessary for any Israeli airstrike on Iran, Kaushal stated.
Hanna Notte, a fellow at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Berlin, also noted that Russia will need to balance its relationship with Iran and other Middle Eastern partners, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which will oppose the sale of advanced weapons to Tehran.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
