Israel has protested the $10 billion deal which will see Russia selling advanced fighter jets to Iran.

Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman has raised the issue with Moscow in an attempt to cancel the deal or to downgrade the deal.

Israeli officials, however, told reporters that the chances of halting the deal were low because the sale would be in Moscow’s interest.

“I doubt that they [the Russians] will cooperate with us,” the minister said.

According to a Knesset source the negotiations are still underway and if the deal is concluded, the weapons will be delivered in stages over several years.

With the sanctions against selling arms to Iran due to be lifted in 2020, it’s unlikely for the first shipment to be made earlier.