Iran is expected to receive within weeks the first shipment of up to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air defence missile systems as it rebuilds its military capabilities after months of conflict with the US and Israel, according to three sources familiar with the deal.
The sources told Reuters the purchase, valued at between $60 million and $70 million, is one of Tehran’s biggest known efforts to strengthen its short-range air defences since the war exposed weaknesses in protecting military facilities and strategic infrastructure.
The contract covers between 300 and 400 man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), including Chinese-made QW-12 and FN-16 missiles, the sources said.
The deal was signed with Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment, a Hong Kong-based company that the sources said acted as an intermediary between Iran and the Chinese supplier.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. Iran’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China’s Foreign Ministry denied the report, saying: “The relevant reports are completely groundless. China has consistently played a role in promoting peace and ending the conflict.”
Beijing-based Zhong Qing Bao Shang Group, the parent company of Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Iran has been seeking to rebuild its military capabilities after months of fighting in which the US and Israel targeted facilities linked to its missile, drone and air defence programmes, while Tehran responded with ballistic missile and drone attacks.
The conflict highlighted the difficulty of defending fixed military installations and strategic infrastructure against advanced aircraft and precision-guided weapons.
President Donald Trump suspended the US bombing campaign on Saturday but said strikes would resume if negotiations failed to end the five-month conflict, which has technically been under a ceasefire since April.
The planned delivery of hundreds of MANPADS would significantly expand Iran’s short-range air defence inventory and point to closer military ties between Tehran and Beijing.
The sources cautioned that delivery schedules, quantities and other implementation details could still change.
Under the agreement, the first deliveries are expected to be flown from Urumqi in western China before transiting through Pakistan to Iran, although the sources did not specify whether the final leg of the journey would be by air or road.
Pakistan’s military public relations wing, ISPR, rejected reports of any involvement, saying: “Speculations of Pakistan being involved in supply of Air Defence weapons to Iran from China are absolutely concocted and false.”
A spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
Military experts say portable air defence systems can be deployed quickly by small teams and moved frequently, making them more difficult to target than fixed air defence batteries.
A European security source said authorities were aware of several contracts under discussion involving possible sales of QW-series MANPADS to Iran, including the QW-12, QW-18 and QW-19 systems.
A second Middle East security source said Iran had been seeking to buy QW-12 and QW-18 missiles but was unaware that a deal had already been finalised.
The QW-12 and FN-16 are shoulder-fired, infrared-guided surface-to-air missile systems designed to engage low-flying aircraft, helicopters and drones. Defence analysts say the QW-12 is less capable than newer QW variants but can still provide effective short-range protection against drones and other low-flying targets.
Two Western intelligence sources and an Iranian official said Tehran had also explored overland routes to move Chinese military supplies and dual-use components more discreetly and reduce the risk of disruption.
The procurement underlines Iran’s continued reliance on both domestic weapons production and foreign suppliers despite years of sanctions and restrictions on defence-related imports.
Reuters previously reported that Iran was also close to securing a separate agreement with China to acquire anti-ship cruise missiles, although it could not determine whether that deal was completed.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
