On July 5, 2025, Iran received the first Chengdu J-10C multirole fighter jet from China as part of a contract to deliver dozens of the aircraft, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported. The move was part of an urgent program to modernize the Iranian Air Force, initiated after heavy losses in the 12-day war with Israel in June 2025. The delivery of the first J-10C marks the beginning of the implementation of an agreement that had been negotiated for nearly two decades but intensified after the US lifted sanctions on China's purchase of Iranian oil on June 24, 2025.

Iran lost up to 30% of its aircraft fleet during the conflict with Israel, including aging American F-4 Phantom II, F-5E/F Tiger II and F-14A Tomcat aircraft purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, as well as several Soviet MiG-29s, many of which were inoperable due to a lack of spare parts. The superiority of the Israeli Air Force, equipped with F-35I, F-16I and F-15I, exposed the critical weakness of the Iranian air force, forcing Tehran to look for affordable alternatives to update its fleet. Iran initially counted on the delivery of Russian Su-35s, contracted for 2023. But Tehran resumed negotiations with China on the purchase of J-10Cs, which, according to Avia.pro, began back in 2015, but then failed due to Beijing's demands for payment in hard currency. Iran offered barter of oil and gas, which did not suit China until recently.

The Chengdu J-10C is a single-engine, 4++ generation multirole fighter, positioned as a cheaper alternative to the Western F-16V and Swedish Gripen E. The cost of one aircraft ranges from $60 million for the basic configuration to $90 million with weapons, spare parts, and pilot training. According to Reuters, the J-10C is equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, PL-10 and PL-15 missiles, and electronic warfare systems, making it competitive in modern air combat. The success of the J-10C in May 2025, when the Pakistani Air Force shot down several Indian aircraft, including the French Rafale, increased Iran's interest in these machines. According to Bulgarian Military, the Pakistani J-10CEs demonstrated high maneuverability and the effectiveness of PL-15 missiles, which became a "wake-up call" for Western aviation.

According to Iranian newspaper Khorasan, Tehran plans to buy up to 36 fighters, although 150 units were previously discussed. Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh’s visit to the SCO summit in Qingdao on June 25, 2025, as reported by Channel 9 Israel, was key to finalizing the deal. The US’s permission for China to buy Iranian oil without the threat of sanctions opened the door to barter payments, which sped up the process. According to Military Balance 2025, before the war, the Iranian Air Force had about 150 fighters, most of which were outdated.