Moscow, Russia. Iran agreed a secret 500 million euro ($589 million) arms deal with Russia to acquire thousands of advanced shoulder-fired missiles, the Financial Times reported. Reuters said it could not immediately verify the report.
Financial Times report on agreement and delivery schedule
The Financial Times said the agreement was signed in Moscow in December and commits Russia to deliver 500 man-portable “Verba” launch units and 2,500 “9M336” missiles over three years, citing leaked Russian documents seen by the newspaper and several people familiar with the deal. Under the deal, deliveries are scheduled in three tranches running from 2027 through 2029, the FT reported.
Parties involved and request timeline
The FT said the deal was negotiated between Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport and the Moscow representative of Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL). Tehran formally requested the systems last July, according to a contract seen by the FT.
Background on conflict and assessments of damage
In June last year, U.S. forces struck Iran’s three main nuclear sites as the country joined Israel’s military campaign against Iran. President Donald Trump said Iran’s key nuclear facilities were destroyed in the attack, while a preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment at the time said the U.S. airstrikes did not destroy Iran’s nuclear capability and only set it back by a few months. Iranian officials have repeatedly said Tehran had recovered from the damage incurred during the war and that its capabilities are better than ever.
Russia-Iran ties and recent naval activity
Russia has a strategic partnership treaty with Iran, although it does not include a mutual defence clause. Earlier in February, a Russian naval corvette conducted manoeuvres with the Iranian navy in the Gulf of Oman this week, according to Russia’s Defence Ministry.
What do you think the reported delivery timeline from 2027 through 2029 indicates about Russia and Iran’s defence cooperation?
