By the middle of next month, Iran and Russia are expected to sign a new 20-year security agreement. Under the agreement, Iran will purchase $10 billion worth of weapons from Russia. The purchase package will include, among other things, 24 Sukhoi 35SE aircraft that Egypt has given up on purchasing under American pressure, a military satellite and S-400 SAM batteries.

The Iranians have already selected 30 pilots who are due to leave for Russia for training on the Sukhoi planes. It is estimated that the training will begin in February 2022. The planes themselves will arrive in Iran as early as this summer, if the agreement is implemented.