Iran has purchased Russian-made Sukhoi-35 fighter jets, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander said on Monday, amid Western concerns about Tehran and Moscow's growing military cooperation.

For the first time, an Iranian official has confirmed Western suspicions that Tehran has purchased the Russian-designed Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet. Ali Shadmani, the deputy coordinator of the Khatam-ol-Anbia Central Headquarters and a senior official within the IRGC,

But they warn that, if that fails, Iran is on a collision course with the west. European powers that opposed Trump’s maximum pressure during his first term have become more angry with Iran’s behaviour, including the continued expansion of its nuclear activity, its arms sales to Russia and its alleged targeting of citizens in the west.

Its nuclear programme is a rare area where Iran might claim to retain the initiative. Late last year Iran was producing around 7kg of uranium enriched to 60%—a stone’s throw from weapon’s grade—each month,

Iran is closely watching how the new Trump administration may handle Iran policy. While Iran may have expected a “maximum pressure” campaign from Washington to return, the way it had existed during the first administration.