Financial Times:

Charles Clover in London

Iran has been seeking to bolster its air defences as the military prepares for the possibility of an Israeli or US strike against Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure if negotiations over its enrichment programme break down.

Many of Iran’s most-advanced surface-to-air missiles and radars — including its long-range Russian-made S-300 systems — were destroyed or damaged by Israeli air strikes in October and April 2024.

This, coupled with successful Israeli strikes on Iranian proxies such as Lebanese militants Hizbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, has led to the perception that Iran is at its most vulnerable to air attack in decades.

However, experts say many elements of Iran’s air defences remain intact or appear to have been repaired in recent months.

Western intelligence assessments and satellite imagery reviewed by defence analysts suggest that Iran has since repositioned several surface-to-air missile launchers, including S-300 systems, near key nuclear sites such as Natanz and Fordow.

Some kit has also been shown in public in recent months, with a parade of weaponry — including an S-300 launcher and a radar truck — displayed in Tehran at “Army Day” celebrations last month.

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