Iran’s Air Force Still Flying: Fighter Jets Escort Pakistan’s Army Chief Into Tehran Amid Peace Talks
Despite nearly seven weeks of sustained U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian air bases, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force has demonstrated it retains at least some operational aircraft, with fighter jets spotted over Tehran on April 15, 2026.
An F-4E Phantom II and a MiG-29B were photographed and filmed escorting the aircraft carrying Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir into Tehran, where he arrived to help arrange a second round of U.S.-Iran negotiations. The escort of a visiting dignitary’s aircraft is standard military protocol and serves as a symbolic display of capability.
The sightings drew significant attention given the scale of coalition air campaigns targeting Iranian military infrastructure since operations began on February 28. Israeli strikes alone targeted 10 of Iran’s 18 air bases, destroying hardened shelters and damaging or eliminating numerous aircraft. Open-source tracking has confirmed the destruction of F-4s, F-5s, Su-22s, Su-24s, and other platforms across multiple bases throughout the conflict.
Separately, Russian-supplied Mi-28NE “Night Hunter” attack helicopters, delivered to Iran in January 2026 before hostilities began, were also observed flying over the Iranian capital in the days prior to Munir’s visit. Iran had announced the acquisition of an unspecified number of Mi-28s as part of a broader arms package with Russia in November 2023. Up to six airframes are assessed to have arrived before the outbreak of the conflict.
Howard Altman, editor of The War Zone, noted in response to the April 15 footage: “It appears the Iranian air force still has some operational fighter jets.”
Pakistan is currently the sole mediator in ongoing U.S.-Iran talks. Munir’s delegation traveled to Tehran ahead of a second round of negotiations expected to take place in Islamabad.
Sources: The War Zone, Eurasian Times, Army Recognition, LiveUAMap, Wikipedia (2026 Iran war)