Iran asks Putin for advanced S-400 air defense systems, The Telegraph reports
S-400 air defense missile system (photo: Russian media)
Iran is seeking S-400 systems from Russia to upgrade its air defenses, according to a letter from Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin, The Telegraph reports.
Iran wants S-400 systems
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, delivered the message at the Kremlin on November 5, The Telegraph reports, citing an Iranian official.
The media outlet writes that Tehran hopes to rebuild its air defenses following US and Israeli strikes.
The Kremlin said Rezaei delivered a message from Khamenei to Putin during his visit to Moscow. The visit followed an earlier phone conversation between the two leaders. Official statements focused on bilateral relations and the situation in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East as a whole.
Rezaei did not publicly state that the letter contained a request for air defense systems. According to the media outlet, Iranian officials say Russia is discussing the supply of the long-requested systems. The official said Tehran hopes Putin will finally approve the sale.
What the Kremlin says
The media outlet writes that Moscow has long delayed S-400 sales without finalizing them, citing concerns about Israel and other countries in the region.
Military analysts say Russia's war in Ukraine has also depleted its air defense reserves. The Iranian official's visit calls into question Donald Trump's claim that Moscow is not helping Iran, The Telegraph writes.
Neither government has announced an S-400 deal. Deliveries remain far from guaranteed, the media outlet notes.
US President Donald Trump met with his top national security advisers on November 5 for the first time since the congressional elections. They discussed further plans regarding Iran, with three possible courses of action under consideration.
In addition, divisions within the Trump administration over the situation in Iran have intensified.
Some are urging Trump to resume strikes but reach a peace agreement before the 2028 presidential election. Others advise accepting the losses and ending the operation.
Trump also told reporters yesterday that he does not want to destroy what remains of Iran. However, he did not rule out having to do so.
