Iran Seeks Russian S-400 Air Defenses in Khamenei Letter to Putin

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, delivered the message at the Kremlin on November 5. The Telegraph said a senior Iranian official described the S-400 request as the letter’s central demand. Tehran hopes to rebuild its air defenses after U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Kremlin Confirms Letter Delivery

The Kremlin said Rezaei handed Putin a message from Khamenei during the Moscow visit. The trip followed an earlier phone conversation between the two men. Official accounts focused on bilateral relations and the situation in the Gulf and wider Middle East.

Rezaei said the supreme leader wanted the message delivered as soon as possible. After the meeting, he said talks focused on regional security and ending the war. He did not publicly say the letter requested air defense systems.

No S-400 Deal Has Been Confirmed

According to the newspaper, Iranian officials say Russia is discussing deliveries of the long-requested systems. The official said Tehran is optimistic Putin will finally approve the sale.

The Telegraph said Moscow has long dangled S-400 sales without completing them. It cited concerns involving Israel and other states in the region.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has also strained its air defense stocks, according to military analysts. The newspaper said the visit casts doubt on Donald Trump’s claim that Moscow is not helping Iran.

Neither government has announced an S-400 agreement. Delivery remains far from certain.