India, July 13 -- Russia has reportedly deployed its elite Tu-214PU airborne command aircraft to Tehran as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate in West Asia. The move is being viewed as a strong signal of Moscow's continued strategic backing for Tehran amid renewed military hostilities.

The Tu-214PU is a specialised airborne command-and-control aircraft used by Russia's top leadership for secure communication and crisis coordination. Often described as a flying command post, it enables senior officials to direct military and government operations while airborne through advanced communication systems.

The reported deployment comes as fresh US military strikes targeted Iranian positions following attacks on com...