Iranian authorities are close to reaching an agreement with China for the purchase of supersonic anti-ship missiles, reports LETA citing Meduza and the Reuters agency, which refers to six sources.
Iran intends to acquire YJ-12 missiles from China with a range of approximately 290 kilometers. These missiles are capable of circumventing the naval ships' air defense systems.
According to experts in the field of armaments, such missiles would significantly enhance Iran's strike potential and pose a threat to American ships in the region.
Iran and China have been negotiating this deal for at least two years, and in the summer of 2025, following a 12-day war between Israel and Iran that occurred in June, the negotiations reached their final stage.
It is still unclear how many missiles Iran plans to acquire and when they will be delivered. It is also uncertain whether China is willing to adhere to the agreements given the heightened tensions in the Middle East.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that Iran and its allies have defense and security agreements and that "now is the most opportune time to take advantage of these treaties." The Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that it is unaware of any negotiations regarding the sale of missiles, and the Chinese Ministry of Defense did not respond to journalists' requests for comment.
If China transfers the missiles to Iran, it would violate the arms embargo imposed by the UN in 2006. The sanctions were suspended in 2015 as part of the nuclear agreement with the US and its allies; however, they were reinstated in September 2025.
It was previously reported that negotiations are currently underway between the US and Iran to limit Tehran's nuclear program. Pressuring Iran, US President Donald Trump sent a group of American warships to the Middle East and indicated that he is considering a military strike. On February 19, Trump stated that he gives Iran ten to 15 days to reach an agreement, adding that otherwise, it would end badly for Iran.
