… like everyone seems to be saying.

I think it is a bit credulous to regard Iran as that stupid. I think it is much more likely that Iran were playing along with the US “strategic pause” game while waiting for S-400s to be installed in Iran because behind the scenes military advice likely knew of Israeli aerial capabilities in detail - now manifest in Beirut for example.

Remember the several visits to Iran during this time including by Shoigu, and the development of a strategic military alliance between Russia and Iran.