Iran is expected to receive 300–400 portable air-defence missiles from China within a few weeks, three sources told Reuters.
The purchase, valued at US$60–70 million, is one of Tehran’s largest known efforts to strengthen its short-range air defences since the outbreak of the war against the United States and Israel, which exposed weaknesses in Iran’s ability to protect military installations and strategic infrastructure.
The contract covers the purchase of between 300 and 400 man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS), including the Chinese-made QW-12 and FN-16 missiles, the sources said.
A Hong Kong-based company is reportedly acting as an intermediary.
The agreement was concluded with Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment, a Hong Kong-based company that, according to the sources, acted as an intermediary between the Iranian side and the Chinese supplier.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter. Iran’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China flatly rejects the reports.
China’s Foreign Ministry said: “The relevant reports are completely groundless. China has consistently played a role in promoting peace and bringing the conflict to an end.”
When asked about the agreement at a regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Jiang Bin said that he was “not familiar with the relevant situation”.
If China is attempting to supply Iran with weapons in secret, the matter is geopolitically delicate. Trump suggests that Beijing should keep out of it:
Trump said it would be surprising if Iran received such equipment from China, given what he said were assurances from Chinese President Xi Jinping that China would not intervene in the war on Iran’s behalf.
“I mean, things like that happen, but it would be surprising. He [Xi] told me very clearly that he would not take part, but he knows that I would be quite disappointed.”
The question is whether China will proceed with the delivery, knowing full well that it will anger Washington.
The shipment is reportedly to pass through Pakistan, which also denies the reports:
Under a plan agreed by the parties, the shipments are initially to be flown from Urumqi in western China and then routed through Pakistan to Iran, according to the sources, who did not specify whether the onward transport would take place by air or by road.
A series of secret agreements has secured weapons supplies for Iran during the ongoing war, The Telegraph writes. According to the British newspaper, China is in practice acting as an ally:
Beijing is also said to have sent Tehran chemicals used in the production of rocket fuel for ballistic missiles. At the same time, shipping data indicate that China has continued to purchase oil from Iran since the war began, putting money directly into Tehran’s state coffers.