Russia - Iran Wrap Up Arms Deal To Bolster Iran's Military Capability

Advanced air/sea Russian hardware for Iran amid Putin’s warm welcome for Bennett at Sochi

DEBKA

In Moscow, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov sat down with Iran’s armed forces chief Gen. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri to wind up a hefty multi-billion string of arms transactions. .

According to DEBKAfile’s sources, one set covered the sale to Iran of Russian warships, including cruisers, guided missile destroyers and submarines; the other consisted of advanced Russian fighter jets for the Iranian air force and a variety of rockets.

The marine deals follow Tehran’s decision to overhaul and modernize its navy to avoid falling behind in the power contest ongoing in the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea, where the US holds the upper hand. A boosted Iranian naval presence in the Red Sea would directly affect Israel security from the south and its shipping routes to the Far East.

From Oct 17 util he departed on the 21st, Gen. Baghari visited Navy command headquarters at St. Petersburg and was escorted on a tour of bases by Russian Navy Deputy Chief Vice Adm. Vladimir Kasatonov.  He also visited the Russian Navy’s Baltic naval base at Kronshtadt, 30km west of St. Petersburg, where he was given the chance to board a number of warships and submarines for a closer look.

On his return home, Iran’s army chief told a state radio interviewer on Oct. 22: “The conclusion of arms agreements [with Moscow] and their implementation in the near future will considerably deepen our relations.”