Iran and Russia have quietly reached a weapons deal worth €500 million (approximately $589 million), according to reports. The agreement reportedly involves the procurement of thousands of advanced, shoulder-fired Russian missiles.
The clandestine arms agreement between Tehran and Moscow was revealed Sunday by the Financial Times, citing leaked Russian documents and sources familiar with the deal, Reuters reported.
The Financial Times report is based on leaked Russian documents and information from sources with knowledge of the agreement.
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The deal, signed in Moscow in December, obligates Russia to deliver 500 “Verba” portable launchers and 2,500 “9M336” missiles in three tranches, according to the Financial Times report. Reuters was unable to independently verify the report.
According to the Financial Times, the weapons deliveries from Russia to Iran are scheduled in three phases, beginning in 2027 and continuing through 2029.
The Financial Times reported that the agreement was negotiated between Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state arms exporter, and representatives from Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).
According to a contract seen by the Financial Times, Tehran formally requested the weapons systems in July of last year.
One month prior, in June of last year, Israel launched a large-scale series of attacks against Iran, with the United States joining in the bombing of Teheran’s major nuclear facilities.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran’s main nuclear facilities were destroyed in the attacks. However, a Washington intelligence assessment at the time determined that the U.S. Bombing did not destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities and only slowed its operations for several months.
Tehran officials have repeatedly asserted that Iran has recovered from the damage sustained during the war and that its capabilities are better than ever.
Russia maintains a strategic partnership agreement with Iran, though it does not include a mutual defense clause. Earlier this February, a Russian Navy corvette conducted maneuvers with the Iranian Navy in the Gulf of Oman.
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