Iran says it has completed the arrangements to buy Russian Su-35 fighter jets and trained the pilots who would fly them. But Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia told Iran’s Tabnak that the aircraft, originally expected before the fighting, would arrive only after the war ends. That makes the purchase a stated future capability—not an immediate addition to Iran’s air force.
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What Akraminia said about the Su-35s
In an interview reported on October 31, Akraminia said the contracts and pilot training had been completed before the conflict, and that delivery had been expected before fighting began. He now expects Iran to receive the aircraft after hostilities end.
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Some reporting describes this as the first direct public comment from Iran’s Army on a deal that had been discussed for years. That makes the statement a significant acknowledgment, but it does not independently verify the contract or establish that any jets have been handed over.
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Why the delivery delay matters
The announced timing means the Su-35s cannot be counted as an immediate wartime reinforcement: delivery is explicitly tied to the end of the fighting. If hostilities resume before then, the purchase would not provide Iran with these aircraft during that period.
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Even after a handover, the statement alone does not establish when the fighters would become operational. The available reports do not provide a verified delivery schedule or explain what remains to be done before the aircraft could enter service.
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What remains unconfirmed
Akraminia’s reported remarks do not settle the aircraft count, contract value, reason the planned prewar delivery did not happen, or a specific arrival date. “After the war” is a condition, not a dated commitment. Clash Report says delivery details have not been published and that it found no Russian comment; it also describes the purchase claim as unverified.
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A separate report has cited claims of 48 Su-35s ordered and 20 completed in Russia by July. Those figures are not confirmed by Akraminia’s statement, and the available reporting does not establish that the completed aircraft were delivered to Iran.
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Reports disagree on Akraminia’s role
Several reports identify Akraminia as a spokesman for Iran’s regular army, the Artesh. Others describe him as an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesman, so coverage is inconsistent on which institution he represents.
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Reports attributed to the interview say procurement and contract work were handled by bodies outside the army, while pilot training was complete. Iran International also reports that Akraminia said Iran planned to acquire airborne early-warning aircraft, known as AWACS.
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The clearest conclusion is limited but important: an Iranian military spokesman said the Su-35 purchase arrangements and pilot training were complete, while delivery remained in the future and conditional on the war ending. The number of aircraft, the contract terms and the timing of any handover remain unverified in the available reporting.
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