Iranian Officials to Moscow

Local Editor

Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan plans to visit Russia to discuss further military cooperation between the two countries and attend a security conference, the Iranian Embassy in Moscow says.

"The Iranian minister will have a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu," Russia's TASS news agency quoted sources from the embassy on Friday.

Dehqan will also discuss ways to buy Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets and T-90 tanks during his visit to Moscow scheduled for April 26, the embassy said.

The 2016 Moscow Conference on International Security [MCIS], which will be held on April 27-29, is expected to focus on fighting terrorism in the region and across the world, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

According to Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanai, Speaker of Iran's Parliament Ali Larijani will also travel to Moscow next week.

This comes as news agencies reported that Dehqan is planning to raise the purchase of warplanes and tanks during an upcoming meeting with his Russian counterpart in Moscow.

According to the reports, the Islamic Republic is eyeing the Su-30SM jet, a "two-seat supermaneuverable fighter aircraft," which is suitable "for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions," as well as the advanced T-90 tank.

Russia has also sold to Iran the advanced S-300 air defense system, which offers long-range protection against both airplanes and missiles, although it has yet to be delivered.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team