The presence of a Russian IL-76 transport aircraft in Tehran sparked speculation

Defence Affairs Analysis

A Russian Ilyushin IL-76 transport plane known to be frequently used to deliver weapons has been spotted landing in Tehran for a short time before taking off again for Russia, leaving many questions about its purpose in Iran.

According to analysts, once the Russian transport plane landed in the Iranian capital, it reportedly unloaded its unknown cargo and took off again for Moscow.

The presence of the Russian transport aircraft is indeed well-known in the arms shipments from Russia to the Middle East, he said, indicating that Moscow has resumed its arms shipments to Iran.

Previously, the delivery of Russian weapons using IL-76 transport aircraft to Iran was delayed due to the 12-day war with Israel.

The Ilyushin IL-76 is a Russian strategic transport aircraft known for its ability to carry heavy loads over long distances in a variety of weather and terrain conditions.

This aircraft was first designed in the late 1960s by the Ilyushin Design Bureau to meet the needs of the Soviet Union's Air Force, which at the time required a high-capacity logistics aircraft to deliver military equipment to remote areas in Siberia and other regions.

The IL-76 transport aircraft made its maiden flight in 1971 and subsequently entered active service on a large scale during the Cold War era.