Iran is expected to receive the first shipment of up to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air defence missile systems within weeks under a deal valued at between $60 million and $70 million, according to three sources familiar with the agreement.
The sources told Reuters that 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 missile systems, as Tehran seeks to strengthen its short-range air defences following months of conflict with the United States and Israel.
According to the sources, the agreement was signed through Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment, a Hong Kong-based company acting as an intermediary between Iran and the Chinese supplier.
The sources said the initial deliveries are expected to depart from Urumqi in western China before transiting through Pakistan into Iran, although they noted that delivery schedules and quantities could still change.
China’s Foreign Ministry denied the report, describing it as “completely groundless” and insisting Beijing remains committed to promoting peace and ending the conflict.
Pakistan also rejected suggestions that it would facilitate the transfer of the weapons. The country’s military media wing, ISPR, described reports linking Pakistan to the shipment as “absolutely concocted and false.”
Military analysts say portable air defence systems are valuable because they can be rapidly deployed by small teams to protect military installations, energy facilities and other strategic infrastructure against low-flying aircraft, helicopters and drones.
The reported procurement underscores Iran’s efforts to rebuild its air defence network after months of fighting exposed vulnerabilities in its ability to protect key military and strategic assets from precision air strikes.
