Iran has reached a deal to buy advanced Su-35 fighter planes from Russia, Iranian state media said on Saturday. “The Sukhoi-35 fighter planes are technically acceptable to Iran and Iran has finalised a contract for their purchase,” the broadcaster IRIB quoted Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York as saying.

Iran has acknowledged sending drones to Russia but says they were sent before the Russia – Ukraine war. Moscow denies that its forces use Iranian-built drones in Ukraine.