Iran has requested modern air defense systems from Russia in preparation for a possible war with Israel. Russia has already begun to transfer the necessary weapons – radars and air defense systems, Babel writes.
The New York Times reports this, citing Iranian media and sources among Iranian officials.
On Monday, August 5, former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Iran. This happened at a time when Iran is threatening to attack Israel for the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.
There, Sergei Shoigu met with President Massoud Peseshkian and General Mohammad Bagheri. After these meetings, he said that Russia was ready “for full cooperation with Iran on regional issues”. General Bagheri said that relations between the two countries are “deep, long-term and strategic” and will only expand under the new Iranian government.
It is known that Russia also has economic and cultural ties with Israel, as a large number of Russian Jews live there. But analysts point out that Russia cannot afford to reject Iran’s request for help, as it relies heavily on Iranian drones in the war in Ukraine.
