FILE IMAGE: mil.ru
Rumors are circulating in that Russia and Iran are close to a large military deal in the sphere of military aviation.
According to Shephard Media special correspondent Babak Taghvaee, Russia rejected the Iranian request to buy 18 Su-35 multirole air superiority fighters and 8 Su-30SM multirole fighters. In turn, Moscow reportedly suggested Tehran to buy a unknown number of Su-27SM3 multirole fighters.
#Russia Deputy PM, Dmitry Rogozin offered #Iran Defense Minister Gen. Dehqan sale of MiG-35 4++ MMRCA today, but #IRIAF is not interested! pic.twitter.com/rRFYz9OlO5
— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) 5 August 2017
While #Iran wants Su-35S, #Russia offers only Su-27SM3 and today MiG-35S/UB but equipped with Zhuk-ME radar. #IRIAF wants with Zhuk-AE radar https://t.co/WHcnO4YkSi
— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) 5 August 2017
The UN sanctions, the sensitive technologies implemented in the production of Su-30SM and Su-27SM3 aircraft as well as some commercial issues were allegedly behind the situation. In any case, the US is able to block any such delivers to Iran via the UN Security Council till 2020 when the limitations have to be lifted.
However, according to other experts, Babak Taghvaee’s story is questionable. Babak Taghvaee argued that Russia had no problems with delivering Su-27SM3 this year despite the UN Security Council limitations. This is very unlikely.
They had No problem delivering Su-27SM3 this year.
— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) 3 August 2017
Furthermore, Russia does not produces new Su-27SM3 multirole fighters. It just modernizes older Su-27 versions.
Last weekend, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin met with Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan and discussed the military cooperation between the two countries.
Тегеран. С министром обороны Ирана Хусейном Дехканом было что обсудить pic.twitter.com/NZuaCOtK8Q
— Дмитрий Рогозин (@Rogozin) 5 August 2017
According to a source in Rogozin’s office, the sides were set to discuss possible arms supplies and strengthening of the military and technical and technological cooperation amid the continued US sanctions.
