Iran is expected to receive within weeks the first shipment of hundreds of Chinese-made shoulder-fired air-defense missile systems under a deal valued at between $60 million and $70 million, three sources familiar with the agreement told Reuters.
The purchase marks one of Tehran’s largest-known efforts to reinforce its short-range air defenses since the outbreak of its war with the United States and Israel, which exposed vulnerabilities in Iran’s ability to protect military facilities and critical infrastructure.
According to the sources, the contract covers between 300 and 400 man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), including Chinese-made QW-12 and FN-16 missile launchers. The agreement was signed with Hong Kong-based Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment, which the sources said is acting as an intermediary between the Iranian side and the Chinese supplier.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Iran Moves to Strengthen Air Defenses
Iran is seeking to rebuild its military capabilities after months of fighting in which U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted facilities linked to its missile, drone, and air-defense programs. Tehran responded with barrages of ballistic missiles and drones during the conflict.
The fighting highlighted the challenges Iran faces in defending fixed military and strategic sites against advanced aircraft and precision-guided weapons.
Although Washington suspended its bombing campaign on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump has said military strikes could resume if negotiations fail to end the five-month-old conflict, which has technically remained under a ceasefire since April.
If completed, the delivery of hundreds of MANPADS would significantly expand Iran’s inventory of short-range air-defense weapons and underscore increasingly close military ties between Tehran and Beijing.
However, the sources cautioned that while the agreement has been signed, delivery schedules, quantities, and other implementation details could still change.
Planned Delivery Route
According to the sources, the initial shipments are expected to depart by air from Urumqi in western China before transiting through Pakistan to Iran. They did not specify whether the final leg of the journey would be completed by air or overland.
Pakistan’s military public relations wing, ISPR, denied any involvement in the transfers.
“Speculations of Pakistan being involved in supply of Air Defense weapons to Iran from China are absolutely concocted and false,” ISPR said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
China Rejects Report
Iran’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the Reuters report, stating: “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, also did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Why the Systems Matter
Military experts say portable air-defense systems play an important role because they can be rapidly deployed, operated by small teams, and frequently relocated, making them more difficult to target than fixed air-defense batteries.
The QW-12 and FN-16 are infrared-guided, shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile systems designed to engage low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and drones. Their mobility allows them to be deployed quickly around military bases, energy infrastructure, and other sensitive locations.
Defense analysts consider the QW-12 less advanced than newer variants such as the QW-18 and QW-19, but they say it can still provide an effective layer of protection against drones and other low-flying threats.
Broader Procurement Efforts
A European security source told Reuters that authorities in his country were aware of several contracts under discussion involving possible sales of QW-series MANPADS to Iran, including QW-12, QW-18, and QW-19 systems.
A second security source in the Middle East said Iran had been seeking to acquire QW-12 and QW-18 missiles but was unaware that a deal had already been finalized.
Two Western intelligence sources and an Iranian official also told Reuters that Tehran has explored using overland routes to transport Chinese military supplies and dual-use components more discreetly while reducing the risk of disruption.
The procurement underscores Iran’s continued reliance on a combination of 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 to acquire anti-ship cruise missiles, according to people familiar with those negotiations, although Reuters could not determine whether that agreement was ultimately completed.
