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Russian cargo plane Ilyushin Il-76 briefly landed in Iran to drop off…

Russian cargo plane Ilyushin Il-76 briefly landed in Iran to drop off…
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Reports indicate that military cooperation between Iran and Russia has intensified following the 12-day war between Tel Aviv and Tehran. Iran has been making efforts to bolster its air defences after Israel targeted its critical air defence systems and rocket launchers in the initial phase of the conflict.

A Russian military transport aircraft, the Ilyushin Il-76, briefly landed in Iran on July 15, unloaded anonymous cargo, and then immediately took off for Moscow.

This was the second time in the past one week that the Russian aircraft touched down in Tehran.

The fleeting presence of the Il-76 in Iranian airspace has caught the attention of global observers, as the Russian aircraft is often linked to clandestine military airlifts.

Speculations are rife over the nature of the Russian cargo that has been delivered to its embattled ally.

Open-source intelligence trackers believe that these covert Russian sorties are correlated to Iran’s air defence readiness.

The trackers have observed the deployment of new anti-air assets near Iran’s western border with Israel, and the movement of heavy military equipment toward sensitive zones.

Experts suggest that Russia may have supplied Iran with components for advanced Russian fighter jets, cutting-edge air defence radars, or even stockpiles of Shahed-series drones.

Notably, the Il-76 made a similar sortie to Iran in 2024. At the time, speculation arose about a potential covert weapons transfer.

The Il-76 is a prominent symbol of Soviet-era military logistics. It is renowned for its ruggedness and capacity to ferry up to 50 tonnes of cargo.

It can airlift tanks, missile systems, or disaster relief aid over distances exceeding 4,000 kilometres, even in austere conditions or on unpaved runways.

These covert shipments have come at a time when Iran’s air combat edge is under relentless pressure from Israel.

Reports indicate that military cooperation between Iran and Russia has intensified following the 12-day war between Tel Aviv and Tehran.

Iran has been making efforts to bolster its air defences after Israel targeted its critical air defence systems and rocket launchers in the initial phase of the conflict.

Significantly, in June this year, Iran’s Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh attended a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Photos of Nasirzadeh inside a Chinese J-10 fighter jet went viral, raising further speculation that Iran may be planning to procure the multi-role J-10 fighter jet.

Iranian military leaders have openly acknowledged their shortcomings during the recent clashes with Israel.

They have reiterated their commitment to addressing the gaps in the country's military capabilities. The most recent conflict with Israel exposed critical deficiencies in Iran’s aerial defences and air force capabilities.

Israeli air forces encountered minimal resistance in Iranian airspace, allowing them to penetrate deep into Iranian territory and strike key targets.

Defence experts have pointed out that the recurring pattern of Il-76 flights to Iran may suggest the offloading of undisclosed cargo.

But alternative theories have also emerged. Some analysts believe the flight may have landed in Tehran to collect additional Shahed drones or ballistic missiles rather than to deliver military equipment.

Nevertheless, these flights remain shrouded in suspicion, as no satellite imagery or publicly available evidence has confirmed any military transfers.

It is worth noting that Iran is actively seeking to acquire Russia’s stealth fighter jet SU-35, as well as modern long-range air defence systems such as the S-400 Triumf.

So far, Russia has yet to transfer these critical fighter jets and air defence systems. Experts argue that if Russia were to provide Tehran with such advanced capabilities, it would mark a dramatic shift in the regional power balance.

Also read: Iran’s FM Araghchi ridicules 'war criminal’ Netanyahu over demand to limit missile range to 480 km

They claim that the Russian shipments could severely undermine Israel’s ability to carry out precision raids in Iran.

What remains to be seen is whether these covert Russian sorties will translate into meaningful advancements in Tehran’s military capabilities, since both Israel and the United States have warned Iran of further attacks if it resumes its uranium enrichment programme.

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