Originally Posted by
CrowBat
I'm watching these photos... and simply can't believe what I see.
The regime in Tehran... the same one that didn't do anything at all for its own air force ever since 1979... the same one that was suspecting the IRIAF as 'disloyal' for most of the last 37 years... the same regime that was arresting and executing various of IRIAF commanders, and forcing so many of its pilots into early retirement...
...but also the same one that strictly forbade basing of foreign troops on own soil (see paragraph 147 of the IRI Constitution)...
...and the IRGC... which did everything possible to dismantle, or at least weaken the IRIAF (if not replace it with its own flying service) - and that to a degree where the latter is de-facto grounded...
...are now in such need of Russian air power, they let the VKS to one of IRIAF's 'holy grails', the TFB.3/Nojeh AB...
They must be beyond 'desperate': so much so, they're not even ashamed of actions of this kind any more.
Some here might wonder over all of this, then most of Westerners think 'Iran + Russia = Allies', at least since 1990s. And I'll admit: understanding what I mean with 'shame' and 'desperate'... indeed, what I mean with absurdity of this development - requires plenty of understanding of the 'Islamic Republic of Iran' too.
That system is supposed to be born out of 'distaste' for 'foreign meddling into Iranian issues' (see the CIA removing Mossadegh, Shah's cooperation with USA), and Iranian insistence on 'can do everything on our own'. And that's 'just for the start'.
That system was also born out of supposed distaste for militarism: right after the (supposedly) 'Islamic Revolution' of 1979, the new regime nearly disbanded the entire military (prior to occupation of the US embassy nobody else but Khomeini's son was negotiating the sale of Iranian F-14s with the UK and Turkey), etc., etc., etc.
It must be understood from the history of Russo-Iranian relations, which is including not only centuries-old antagonism, but also a mass of recent, and very negative Iranian experiences - all of which created a very negative image of Russians in Iranian minds (see the Russians botching-up with construction of reactors in Busher; see the Russians refusing to permit Iranians to move their GOSPs to the Caspian Sea via Russian rivers + channels system; see the Russians pocketing billions for S-300s then not delivering any etc., etc., etc.).
It requires the most basic understanding/knowledge of IRGC's history too - the history of a 'military' service that at least sin ce Kerbala-4 or -5 (back in 1987) was preaching, 'we do not need any air power; can do on our own, with religious zeal and infantry', etc., etc., etc.
Finally, it must be observed from the standpoint of a 'proud Iran', a 2,500-years old 'country of Fars', 'sometimes defeated but never conquered' etc., etc., etc.
But now, after 37 years of Mullah + IRGC rule... Iran not only has next to no air force capable of supporting its military intervention in Syria; on the contrary, it needs Russian air force to 'win' there?
And win what? We are yet to see Russians flying at least one combat sortie in support of IRGC's troops in Aleppo area: so far, their Tu-22s were flying only show strikes against Daesh.
Bottom line: Tehran granting permission - even inviting - Russians to deploy their troops in Iran, is the same like if after 9/11 the USA would've requested Mexico to help defend the US airspace.