Iranian fighter jet needs 15-20 years of investment and billions poured in. Too steep a price for a country under massive sanctions and less than 400B dollar economy.
Better to sign licensing deal or pay billions for China/Russia to set up necessary infrastructure in Iran for a ToT deal.
Many nations more advanced than Iran have tackled the fighter jet program (Japan, Israel, India, etc) and ultimately failed or decided against it.
Fighter jet program without a stepping stone (HINT NOT F-5) and without a stepping stone engine (HINT NOT J-85) will just be an endless money pit. IRGC will not allow it.
First get a modern 4+ design (SU-27 or SU-30 or J-10) and a modern engine (AL-21 class) THEN master it. THEN branch off with domestic designs.
First---the old USSR had a GDP PPP of 2,5trln$ (in current prices), while Iran has a GDP PPP of 1,6trln$ today.
Soviets, having a 2,5trln$ GDP could build fighters, helicopters, ICBMs, nuclear subs and many more
See no reason why modern Iran with 1,6trln$ GDP can't afford indigeneous military projects
Second---Iran has a long-term strategy of development of military-industrial complex.
Over the last 15 years Iran unveiled many new types of weapons-- from modern cruise and ballistic missiles to advanced air defense systems of various ranges.
You see, today Iran produces virtually every type of weapon for its armed forces and we can assume that in the near future Iran will achieve
total self-sufficiency.
Regarding the most complex project---indigeneous fighter aircraft.
Iran produces Yasin as a subsonic trainer and F-5 as a supersonic trainer for the future.
But news about Iran developing stealth fighter come from as early as 2005. It is in its 15th year of development already.
Finally by 2029---50th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution----it will be 24 years of development of indigeneous "stealth fighter"-----enough time to finish the project
We can assume that by 2029, after 24 years of development, F-313 will turn into a 5th generation fighter and will have indigeneous (reverse engineered )RD-33 engines +locally developed radar+ stealth airframe+ locally developed avionics
Instead of wasting money for buying foreign technology, Iran decided to develop indigeneous school.
By 2029----50th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Iran will have a fully developed military industry with tanks, APCs, IFVs, artillery, attack and transport helicopters, UAVs, trainer and fighter aircrafts, cruise and ballistic missiles, air defenses, trimarans, destroyers, submarines, SLVs and ICBMs and probably nuclear weapons