Defense Minister Lieutenant General Hossein Dehqan will likely sign a contract in his forthcoming trip to Moscow on Tehran's purchase of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets, a Russian source announced on Thursday.
Sputnik quoted a source in Iran's Defense Ministry as saying on Thursday that Dehqan will visit Moscow on February 16 to discuss Russia's delivery of S-300 air defense missile system to Iran as well as the purchase of Su-30 Flanker multirole fighter jets.
"Dehqan is taking a number of the Defense Ministry's representatives to the Russian capital to meet their Russian colleagues and other high-ranking officials," the source said.
During the upcoming meeting, the minister plans to discuss Iran's need for Su-30 and sign a contract on its delivery, the report added.
"The last stages will be discussed for the delivery of the S-300 system to Iran, the first part of which should arrive before the end of next month and the second by the end of June."
Dehqan will also discuss the delivery of Su-30 airplanes because the Defense Ministry believes the Iranian Air Force needs this type of plane.
"We've moved far in these discussions of purchases and I think that during the upcoming visit, a contract will be signed," the source told Sputnik.
Iran and Russia in recent years have boosted their cooperation in various defense fields, including the supply of military equipment.
Back in October last year, the defense minister highlighted the significance of defense collaborations between Tehran and Moscow, especially under the current regional circumstances.
"The current situation necessitates that Iran and Russia, through the political wills of the two countries' leaders, develop their cooperation in political, economic and defense fields," Dehqan said at the time.
