Do you have something to say about its appearance, or are you just trying to play the wise guy here?
Let me tell you about how Research works. First you have to define the problem, then you have to think about all the important aspects about that problem. For that you need brain storming and search for what work has been done. Then either you make your own new solution or take the already accepted solution and make changes to have better solution for your problem as your problem is more advanced and the existing solution isn't sufficient.
Then you make necessary changes in either your own solution or imported solution to fit according to the problem. Then you check the revised solution with data. If the solution fits the data and delivers better results and also exhibits all the necessary characteristics that you wanted it to show, you accept that solution and send for publication or to production.
Now here, Iran doesn't have entire access to latest technologies because of sanctions. They have old air planes, access to journals and their own research labs. Now they have to work double to develop the technologies according to latest ones the enemy have and also learn from old plane, reverse engineer and get all the necessary information to develop the plane. The computer department, electrical engineers, metallurgical departments etc. now work as various Modules.
They have to coordinate with each other and look at the specifications the other wants to get a plane which fits the entire expectations of each department but also is cost effective.
Now there are many countries who can't even build their own trainers like YAK-130. India is still struggling with LCA even when we had all the access to critical technologies pre-1998 and we now even have American Engines.
So now this, is just the start of Self-Reliance and Jump to Fifth Generation fighter just skipping 3rd generation. All these technologies developed for 5th gen. will be useful in creating 4.5 gen planes with less cost and no dependence on any nation, whatsoever.
If you want, I can go in more detail, why this project is damn important and why this development is so crucial.
You can criticize by same old rhetoric many critics do, or you can look at brighter side of this development. Don't look at just one plane. Look at all the technologies that are developed. They all will trickle down to various industries of Iran.
And even if i assume that all this is fake, remember, it will raise doubts in the enemy and Deception works.
Huh, It was a long post.