Cold war fears surge as Russia and US in deadlock over Iran fighter jet deal

THE US has warned Russia to “be fully aware” that selling fighter jets to Iran would violate a UN arms ban as tensions escalate to near Cold War levels.

   TENSE: US officials have said they will raise the matter with Russia as tensions escalate

ran's defence minister General Hossein Dehghan said he would sign a contract with Russia to buy the Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jets.

The proposed deal came as sanctions set up in the wake of Iran’s nuclear deal with the West start to loosen.

But US officials have said they will raise the matter with Russia – sparking yet another potential stand off between the two international superpowers.

   TRADE: General Hossein Dehghan confirmed he would sign a weapons deal with Moscow

The Obama administration issued an official statement to remind Russia that Moscow are forbidden from selling the fighter jets to Iran.

But Russia could send the Sukhoi jets on to the Middle East country – who are also fighting on their own turf against sick jihadi group ISIS – if they receive UN approval.

The consent must be given “in advance on a case-by-case basis”.

   UPGRADE: The Sukhoi Su-30SM's would replace the Iranian airforces outdated jets

General Dehghan did not specify how many fighter planes Iran will buy – or give a timeline for the signing of the deal.

But with Iran currently using modified versions of long-outdated Russian and American warplanes, large orders of new age Sukhoi fighter jets seem likely.

Russia has already started delivering S-300 air defence missile systems to Iran – following up from a deal that was temporarily frozen in 2010.

   TURMOIL: Russia and Iran's close ties have caused conflict between UN member states

It comes as tensions between Russia and the US have led officials to claim global tensions are at a Cold War level.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists – the board who control the doomsday clock which predicts how close humanity is to the end – chose to keep the symbolic gauge of an impending apocalypse perilously close to midnight.

Last month chairman Lawrence Krauss said: “The clock reflects our estimate that the world is as close to the brink as it was in 1983 when US-Russian tensions were at their iciest in decades.”