Iran requests air defence from Russia to prepare for war with Israel, deliveries already underway – NYT

Iran has requested advanced air defence systems from Russia as it prepares for a possible war with Israel. The New York Times has reported that deliveries are already underway.

Source: NYT

Quote from NYT: "Two Iranian officials familiar with the war planning, one a member of the Revolutionary Guards Corps, confirmed that Iran has made the request and said Russia has started delivering advanced radars and air-defence equipment. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the aid publicly."

Details: The New York Times noted that a senior Russian security official, former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, visited Tehran on 5 August. The visit happened while Iran has been preparing to retaliate against Israel for the assassination of a Hamas political leader on Iranian soil last week.

Shoigu met with Iran's new President Masoud Pezeshkian, Brigadier General Mohammad Bagheri, who leads military strike planning against Israel, and the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

"Mr. Shoigu’s visit underscores the close alliance between Iran and Russia, which has strengthened since the war in Ukraine started in 2022. Iran has provided Russia with military drones, and the two countries recently finalised an agreement to expand their military and intelligence cooperation." The New York Times emphasised.

Iranian state television showed Shoigu and General Bagheri greeting each other, meeting face-to-face and then participating in a bigger meeting at a negotiation table with members of the Russian delegation and Iranian military officials.

"We are ready for full cooperation with Iran on regional issues," Shoigu said (according to Iranian state media).

General Bagheri told Shoigu that relations between their countries are "deep, long-term and strategic" and that they will only expand under the new Iranian government.

The New York Times noted that Russia also has economic and cultural ties with Israel, as a large number of Russian Jews live there. But analysts say Moscow cannot afford to refuse Tehran's request for help, as it relies heavily on Iranian-made drones in Ukraine.

Quote from Colin Clarke, director of policy and research at the Soufan Group, an intelligence and security consultancy: "If Iranians are asking Russians for air defence, they are cashing in their chips. The question is how do Russians assuage Tehran without ruining their relationship with Israel."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered a direct strike from Iran on Israel after Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an explosion at his guest house while visiting Iran on the day of the new president's inauguration. 

Background:

• The day before, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó conveyed a warning from Iran about its readiness to attack Israel in a conversation with his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz.
• It was unofficially reported that the United States expects Iran to retaliate against Israel in connection with the assassination of one of the leaders of the Hamas group on Monday or Tuesday.
• The US has decided to send an aircraft carrier strike group, a fighter squadron and additional warships to the region.
• One of the leaders of the Palestinian group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed on the morning of 31 July in the Iranian capital.

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