Iran says Sukhoi Su-35 jets will arrive after war with US ends
By Rohan SalujaGeopolitics Editor, Peepals Global
File photo: Oleg Belyakov (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Iran's Revolutionary Guards spokesman said on 1 November 2026 that Su-35 fighter jets bought before the war with the US began will be delivered once the fighting ends.
What Happened
Iran will receive Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets once its war with the United States ends, the spokesman of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Akraminia, said on Sunday, 1 November 2026. In an interview with the Iranian news website Tabnak, he said the purchase had been completed and contracts signed before the war began at the end of February, that the aircraft had been due before the fighting started, and that pilot training was complete. He did not say when the jets would arrive or how many there would be.
Key Facts
- Speaker: IRGC spokesman Mohammad Akraminia, in an interview published on 1 November 2026.
- He said Su-35 contracts were signed before the US-Iran war began at the end of February 2026 and that delivery will follow the end of the war.
- He said Iranian pilots have completed training on the aircraft.
- He also said the IRGC plans to add more advanced aircraft and is working on radar and satellite support.
- He did not name Russia, but the Su-35 is built by Sukhoi, part of Russia's state-owned United Aircraft Corporation.
- Reports differ on whether any Su-35s already reached Iran in late 2024 or early 2025, and the number ordered or delivered has never been officially disclosed.
Why It Matters
The Su-35 is a twin-engine, Russian-made multi-role fighter, designed both to fight other aircraft and to strike targets on the ground. For Iran, a modern fighter of this kind would be a significant addition to its air power, and the IRGC chose to say so publicly in the middle of a war.
The remarks come during an active conflict between Iran and the United States that began at the end of February 2026. The spokesman did not explain why the jets, which he said were due before the fighting, have not arrived, but his remarks signal that Tehran expects to rebuild and strengthen its forces once the fighting stops. They also point to Russia's role as a supplier of advanced weapons to Iran.
There are reasons for caution. Iranian officials have in the past both announced and denied imminent Su-35 deliveries, and earlier reports of jets being handed over have never been fully confirmed. Neither Russia nor Iran has published a delivery timeline. The statement is best read as a statement of intent, not proof of what will arrive and when.
For India, which buys military equipment from Russia and has a large stake in stability in the Gulf, any change in the balance of military power around Iran matters. India's energy imports and the safety of shipping routes through the region depend on how the conflict between the United States and Iran develops and how it ends.
Iran's Su-35 plans: what is claimed and what is known Item | Status Contracts signed before the war | Claimed by IRGC spokesman Pilot training complete | Claimed by IRGC spokesman Delivery after the war ends | Claimed; no date given Number of aircraft | Not disclosed Earlier deliveries | Reports conflict; not officially confirmed
Impact
Short-term: The statement adds to Iran's messaging during the war but does not change the balance of forces now, since no new jets are said to be arriving until the fighting stops.
Long-term: If delivered, Su-35s would modernise part of Iran's air force and deepen its defence relationship with Russia, which could shape how the United States and its partners in the region plan their own forces.
Who is affected: Iran's armed forces, the United States and its Gulf partners, Russia's defence industry, and countries such as India that depend on stability and open shipping in the region.
Key Takeaway
Iran's Revolutionary Guards say Russian-built Su-35 fighters bought before the war will be delivered after the US-Iran conflict ends, but no numbers or dates have been given and past delivery claims remain unconfirmed.
Questions and Answers
Is Iran getting Sukhoi Su-35 jets?
Iran's Revolutionary Guards spokesman said on 1 November 2026 that Su-35s contracted before the war will be delivered once the US-Iran war ends. He gave no date or number.
Who makes the Su-35?
Sukhoi, a Russian aircraft maker that is part of the state-owned United Aircraft Corporation. The IRGC spokesman did not name Russia in his remarks.
Has Iran already received any Su-35s?
Reports conflict. Some say a first batch arrived in late 2024 or early 2025, but the number has never been officially disclosed and Iranian officials have previously denied reports of imminent deliveries.
Why are the jets coming only after the war?
The spokesman did not explain. He said the aircraft were due before the war began and that delivery would follow once the fighting ends.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Rohan Saluja, Geopolitics EditorCovers Geopolitics and more for Peepals Global. All stories by Rohan Saluja
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Rohan Saluja is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
