Obstacles Persist As Iran Seeks Top Fighter Jets From Russia and China

Iran’s pursuit of advanced warplanes from its ally Russia to modernize its aging fleet has faced numerous hurdles, plunging the regime into a state of uncertainty. While Iran recently took delivery of a batch of Russian-made Yakovlev Yak-130 pilot training aircraft, these light jet trainers fall far short of the twin-engine, supermaneuverable air superiority Russian fighters, like the Sukhoi Su-35, which Iran had been seeking for years.