Telegraph: Tehran seeks S-400 systems as Mojtaba Khamenei sends Putin request in personal letter

A personal letter from Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, to Russian President Vladimir Putin is part of Tehran’s efforts to obtain advanced weapons from Moscow. According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, talks between the two sides are focused on S-400 air defence systems.

Iran has sought to buy these Russian systems for years but has yet to secure their delivery. Its interest in advanced air defence equipment is linked to its aim of rebuilding military capabilities damaged by US and Israeli strikes.

A senior Iranian official quoted by the British newspaper said Tehran was now “optimistic” that Putin would respond positively to its long-standing request. On Thursday, Khamenei sent his security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, to the Kremlin carrying the letter for the Russian president.

The Iranian official explained that the message’s main request was for Iran to be supplied with specific weapons systems.

Rezaei said the meeting with Putin in Moscow included discussions on regional security, developments expected to shape the post-war period and prospects for regional security agreements. The two sides also discussed plans for a new gas pipeline between Russia and Iran.

The talks come as US President Donald Trump has publicly asserted that Moscow is not helping Iran “at all”.

Rebuilding air defences puts the S-400 among Tehran’s priorities

Much of Iran’s air defence equipment has been destroyed in US and Israeli strikes, making the acquisition of S-400 systems one of Tehran’s main objectives.

The attacks exposed shortcomings in the protection of Iranian airspace, nuclear facilities and the regime’s most senior figures. The war also claimed the life of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

For years, however, Moscow has taken a cautious approach to selling the S-400 to Iran. Analysts and regional officials link the absence of a final agreement to Russia’s desire to avoid damaging its relations with Israel and other states in the region.

Further difficulties may stem from Russia’s own military needs. Continuing Ukrainian attacks using long-range missiles and drones are putting pressure on Russia’s refineries, airbases and other facilities. As a result, Moscow’s stockpiles and its ability to meet Tehran’s requests may be limited.

Russian equipment for Iran in defence industry documents

Meanwhile, recently released Russian defence industry documents show that production has begun on equipment intended for Iran for use with helicopter-launched missiles.

The Telegraph reports that Russian state-owned companies are building specialised missile launchers under an export contract code-named “K-10”. One of the documents clarifies that this code refers to Iran.

The equipment includes launchers for the LMUR precision missile, also known as Product 305. According to a 2024 delivery schedule, a Russian factory was to receive power units for 90 twin launchers. Iran was listed as the final recipient, with delivery due by December 2025.

The confidential strategy for a confrontation with the United States

The British report goes beyond arms agreements, also describing the Iranian leadership’s broader planning to preserve the regime in the event of a major military conflict with the United States.

The Telegraph says it has obtained confidential documents containing proposals submitted to Iran’s leadership on how to deal with a possible war. They were prepared by a secret committee of the Iranian parliament before the war between the US, Israel and Iran began last February.

The documents present closer military ties with Russia and China as particularly important in counterbalancing US influence.

The authors propose expanding missile capabilities, improving air defences and developing unmanned aerial vehicles. At the same time, they call for strategic ties with global powers that do not follow Washington’s political line.

According to the memorandum, Iranians’ resilience in the face of external pressure over the past four decades demonstrates the difficulty of implementing a strategy aimed at weakening the regime from within.

The proposals also include strengthening what is termed the “resistance economy”, reducing reliance on oil revenues and intensifying economic and military ties with Moscow and Beijing.

To prevent a united front from forming against it, Tehran is also seeking stronger relations with its neighbours. Another objective is to expand Iran’s role in international organisations, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

The role of the Strait of Hormuz in Tehran’s calculations

The documents discuss the strategic importance of the Middle East at length, focusing particularly on control of key routes for energy transport and international trade.

The memorandum attributes around 60% of the world’s oil reserves and 40% of its natural gas reserves to the region. It also highlights the presence of three of the world’s most important passageways: the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Suez Canal.

According to the document’s assessment, approximately one-third of global seaborne oil and container trade passes through these routes. They are therefore described as exceptionally important hubs for the global economy and energy supply security.

The analysis published by The Telegraph links Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz at the end of February directly to this strategic role.

The document states that, for Washington, diplomacy remains the ultimate route to resolving the Iranian nuclear issue. At the same time, it notes that US strategy includes encouraging cooperation between Israel and other states in the region.

The authors also analyse the consequences of international sanctions, arguing that they have slowed advances in Iranian military technology and created difficulties in obtaining fighter aircraft and spare parts.

On the other hand, the memorandum asserts that the same restrictions have provided an impetus for the domestic defence industry. To illustrate this, it cites Iran’s Bavar-373 air defence system, as well as the Shahed-136 and Ababil drones.

In this context, the request to Russia for S-400 systems represents one element of Iran’s broader effort to rebuild its military strength and improve its ability to face a potential conflict with the United States and its allies.