Genuine question, what kind of aircraft were available for Iran to purchase while having an arms embargo? What kind of jets could they realistically have bought which could’ve withstood against the combined might of US and Israel without getting wiped out? I think a strong airforce would’ve helped initially, but the end result would’ve been the same. Remember Irans AD was sabotaged before any airstrikes by collaborators and infiltrators.
Irans missile force is very good, and would’ve been sufficient for the PG area and Israel but they lacked the most important deterrent which was a nuclear arsenal.