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Iran is expected to receive an initial shipment of up to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air-defense systems within weeks as it works to rebuild defenses damaged during its war with the U.S. and Israel, Reuters reported, citing three sources familiar with the agreement.
The purchase, valued at $60 million to $70 million, covers between 300 and 400 man-portable air-defense systems, or MANPADS, including Chinese QW-12 and FN-16 missiles, according to the sources.
The agreement was signed with Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment, a Hong Kong-based company acting as an intermediary between Iranian officials and the Chinese supplier, the sources said.
China’s Foreign Ministry denied the report.
“The relevant reports are completely groundless. China has consistently played a role in promoting peace and ending the conflict,” the ministry said.
The reported acquisition would be one of Iran’s largest-known efforts to strengthen its short-range air defenses since the conflict began. U.S. and Israeli strikes have exposed weaknesses in Tehran’s ability to protect military facilities and strategic infrastructure.
Iran has responded to the attacks with barrages of ballistic missiles and drones.
Under a delivery plan agreed by the parties, the systems would initially be flown from Urumqi in western China before passing through Pakistan to Iran, according to the sources.
The sources did not clarify whether the Pakistan-to-Iran stage would take place by air or road.
Pakistan’s military public relations wing, ISPR, rejected claims of Pakistani involvement.
“Speculations of Pakistan being involved in supply of Air Defence weapons to Iran from China are absolutely concocted and false,” it said.
Two Western intelligence sources and an Iranian official said Tehran had also explored overland routes to transport Chinese military supplies and dual-use components more discreetly and reduce the risk of disruption.
The QW-12 and FN-16 are shoulder-fired, infrared-guided surface-to-air missile systems designed to target low-flying aircraft, helicopters and drones.
Their mobility allows them to be rapidly deployed around military bases, energy infrastructure and other sensitive locations.
Military experts say portable air-defense systems can be dispersed quickly, operated by small teams and regularly relocated, making them less vulnerable than fixed air-defense batteries.
Defense analysts regard the QW-12 as less capable than newer systems such as the QW-18 and QW-19, but say it can still provide short-range protection against drones and low-flying targets.
A European security source said authorities in his country were aware of several contracts under discussion involving possible sales of QW-series systems to Iran, including the QW-12, QW-18 and QW-19.
A second security source in the Middle East said Iran had been seeking QW-12 and QW-18 missiles but was unaware that an agreement had been finalized.
Washington abruptly suspended two weeks of bombardment Saturday, but U.S. President Donald Trump said strikes would resume if negotiations failed to end the five-month-old conflict, which has theoretically been under a ceasefire since April.
The delivery of hundreds of MANPADS would significantly expand Iran’s short-range air-defense inventory and reflect deepening military ties with China.
Iran has invested heavily over the past two decades in missiles, drones and radar systems. The reported purchase also highlights Tehran’s continued reliance on domestic weapons production and foreign suppliers despite years of sanctions and restrictions on defense-related imports.
Reuters previously reported that Iran was close to securing a separate agreement with China for anti-ship cruise missiles, citing people familiar with those negotiations. Reuters could not determine whether that agreement was completed.
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