28 Mar 2024
Friday 24 February 2017 - 12:24
Story Code : 252411

Behind the Deal: Was Iran really 'Talked Into' buying Russia's Sukhoi jets?

Sputnik News- Commenting on recent reports that Iran has expressed an interest in purchasing 12 Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) airliners, Russian political and military analysts suggested how Tehran was "talked into" the deal, what might be behind it and how it could proceed in the future.

On Wednesday, Russia's Minister ofEnergy and co-chair ofthe Russian-Iranian intergovernmental commission ontrade and economic cooperation, Alexander Novak, announced that Iran has expressed an interest inpurchasing 12 Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) airliners.

"Iran is interested inacquiring 12 Sukhoi Superjet 100 planes soon," he told Rossiya 24 broadcaster.

A source inthe civil aviation [regulator] ofthe Islamic Republic ofIran familiar withthe ongoing negotiations confirmed toSputnik that one ofthe Iranian air carriers has expressed an intention topurchase or lease Russian airliners.

The deal should be clarified inits entirety when Russia's negotiators vist Iran, the source said, albeit withoutelaborating onthe dates ofthe visit.

"Iran is waiting forthe Russian delegation fortalks withthe representatives ofIran's civil aviation [regulators]. The possible purchase or lease ofRussia's SSJ100 airplanes aswell asRussia's technical servicing equipment and component parts and accessories is onthe agenda. The deal should be clarified uponthe results ofthe talks," the source said.

Meanwhile, Alexander Novak visited Iran toattend the inauguration ceremony ofa 1,400-megawatt thermal power plant project, financed tothe tune of 1.2 billion byRussia inthe city ofSirik, southern Iran, Iran's leading daily Tehran Times reported onWednesday.

Russia's online newspaper Vzglyad reported that Russia has also offered tolaunch the joint production ofRussia's twin-engine turboprop airliner the Ilyushin Il-114, which is designed forlocal routes.

According tothe energy minister, Moscow is interested insetting upproduction facilities inIran which will manufacture components forRussian airliners.

"Russian companies are now working withtheir Iranian partners onconcrete suggestions and further decisions," the outlet quotes him assaying.
The newspaper, however reminded that last week, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister incharge ofthe defense industry Dmitry Rogozin cancelled his trip toIran due tosome "technical issues."


According tothe Russian media, Rogozin was set tovisit Tehran last Monday (February 13) tohold talks onthe expansion oftechnology and defense cooperation withIrans Vice-President forScience and Technology Sorena Sattari, and Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan.

He was also expected todiscuss the prospects forbilateral cooperation, particularly inthe field ofaircraft construction, and the purchase ofRussian aircraft bythe Islamic Republic.

On Tuesday, February 14, the Russian Kommersant newspaper announced that Rogozin's trip has been cancelled due towhat the Deputy Prime Minister described as "technical issues."

Vzglyad, however, said that the unofficial reason forthe cancellation was that the Iranian side had made information regarding the upcoming visit ofa high-ranking Russian official public, although the Russian side had asked forconfidentiality.
"We are providing Iran withcolossal support; however, they are purchasing equipment fromthose who humiliate them withsanctions," the newspaper quotes a high-ranking source inMoscow assaying.


The outlet therefore did not rule outthat the so-called thaw inIran's position towardsRussian equipment was forced bythe "cooling-down" ofrelations betweenIran and Washington. It notes that new US president Trump has taken a tough stance onTehran; not only regarding the nuclear deal butalso regarding Iran's support forwhat the US views asterrorist groups.
Russian political analyst Semyon Bagdasarov, head ofthe Center forMiddle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, has suggested that the abovedevelopments can be explained by "the real assessment byIranians ofthe situation which is being set upin the Middle East" and bythe "anti-Iranian remarks ofDonald Trump."


"Tehran understands only too well that there is a tough fight coming inthe Middle East betweenthe US and Israel and a number ofPersian Gulf states onthe one hand, and Iran onthe other hand. And Tehran is getting ready forit," the analyst told Vzglyad.
When it is becoming "too hot" he further elaborated, Iran starts talking aboutcloser cooperation withRussia. He noted that in2015, afterthe Iranian nuclear deal, the West started easing anti-Iranian sanctions, and Tehran had used a different approach [towards Russia].


He said that the attitude was basically that "If we can get money and technology fromyou, it is good, butactually we are oriented more towardsthe West."


However, he further noted, the situation is changing once again, and life is forcing Tehran tore-orient itself again.

Meanwhile, Sergei Seregichev, an expert atthe Institute forMiddle Eastern Studies, has provided another reason behindwhat he called "Iran's maneuvers."
"Iran is interested insetting upcooperation withWashington toa larger degree thanwith Moscow," he told Vzglyad.


"Russia does not pose a threat toIran, just asIran does not pose a threat toRussia. Meanwhile, the US poses a large threat toTehran; more so, when lack ofclarity is taken intoaccount inthe practical implementation ofDonald Trump's "Iranian theses."
He further suggested that what is going onright now however is just "simple eastern bargaining."


Commenting aboutpossible purchases ofRussia's Superjets, the expert doubted that Iran is really interested inacquiring these particular airliners. He suggested that bythe time the deal is actually ready tobe signed, the international situation may have changed sharply.


Besides, he said, there is no guarantee that it will ever get tosign ofthe contract or it will not be completed withpredeterminedly unfavorable conditions.


"Iran does not trust us. It is enough torecall the situation withthe deliveries ofS-300 (which Russia was cancelled in2010 afterthe UN imposed sanctions onIran overits nuclear program). Iran remembers it and has made certain conclusions," the expert said.

Iran is always playing its own game, Seregichev further added; it is always onits own.
"Very likely, it is a so-called "gallery play" forWashington. Additionally, Russia is taking intoaccount Israel's position, including withrespect tothe situation inSyria, which hardly satisfies Iran," he concluded.

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