Monday Reuters and other agencies have cited a senior Revolutionary Guards Commander (IRGC) to say Iran has purchased Russian-made Sukhoi-35 fighter jets. Never before have the Iranians confirmed the purchase of advanced Su-35 jets, though for years it’s been well-known that they have significant Russian military equipment. “Whenever necessary, we make military purchases to strengthen our air, land and naval forces… The production of military equipment has also accelerated,” the deputy Coordinator of the Khatam-ol-Anbia Central Headquarters announced in a statement. “If the enemy acts foolishly, it will taste the bitter taste of being hit by our missiles, and none of its interests in the Occupied Territories will remain safe,” Shadmani continued in reference to Iran’s archnemesis Israel. Iran has been forced to retreat from post-Assad Syria, and its proxy Hezbollah has suffered devastating losses, especially the death last year of Secretary-General Hussein Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike, which was the single biggest blow yet. As for the new jets, it’s unclear whether these transfers have taken place yet, or how many have been ordered. Russia has seen its trade and defense relationship strengthened with non-aligned and especially so-called pariah states like North Korea and Iran. Reports commonly estimate that […]