Iran Buying Chinese Missiles and Russian Rockets as U.S. Military Buildup Intensifies
Chinese CM-302 supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles could be a game changer in a U.S.-Iran conflict. Photo of Ayatollah Khamenei courtesy of Wikipedia and CM-302 missile courtesy of Chinese state media.
Reuters reports that Iran is close to finalizing a deal with Beijing to purchase CM-302 supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, according to six sources familiar with the negotiations. Talks began at least two years ago but accelerated after last June’s 12-day Israel-Iran war.
Senior Iranian military and government officials, including Deputy Defense Minister Massoud Oraei, have been involved. It remains unclear how many missiles would be included, the price, or whether China will complete the transfer amid rising regional tensions.
The CM-302 is widely regarded as one of the most capable anti-ship missiles available. Supersonic and designed to fly at low altitude to evade naval radar, it has an estimated range of about 290 kilometers. Military analysts describe it as a potential “game-changer” that could significantly increase Iran’s ability to threaten U.S. naval forces operating in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.
Marketed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, the missile can be launched from ships, aircraft, or mobile ground platforms and can strike both maritime and land targets. Sources say Iran is also discussing additional Chinese purchases, including surface-to-air missile systems, anti-ballistic weapons, and anti-satellite capabilities. Such transfers would represent some of the most advanced Chinese arms sales to Iran in decades and could violate reimposed U.N. sanctions.
Analysts say acquiring the missiles would help replenish Iran’s arsenal after last year’s war and reflect deepening China-Iran military ties. Without them, Iran faces weakened conventional capacity and remains militarily outmatched. Its regional proxy network has also been degraded by sustained Israeli operations, limiting its ability to quickly rebuild power.
Lebanon’s government has urged Hezbollah to stay out of any future U.S.–Iran conflict, warning escalation could trigger severe Israeli retaliation. Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji said officials have received indications that Israel would strike civilian infrastructure, possibly including Beirut’s airport, in renewed fighting. During the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah war, Israel killed much of Hezbollah’s leadership and launched a ground invasion before a U.S.-brokered ceasefire halted major combat. The White House did not directly address the reported negotiations but reiterated President Donald Trump’s warning that Iran must reach a nuclear agreement or face serious consequences.
President Trump is reportedly growing frustrated as he weighs whether to order airstrikes after being advised that military action might not deliver a decisive blow and could draw the United States into a prolonged Middle East war. His decision is expected to depend partly on assessments by special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on whether Tehran is stalling in negotiations over relinquishing its nuclear weapons capability.
Trump has asked advisers for strike options strong enough to pressure Iran into negotiating from a weaker position, but military planners have cautioned there are no guarantees such action would achieve that objective. He has not made a final decision as the administration awaits Iran’s latest proposal ahead of scheduled talks in Geneva.
In addition to the reported Chinese missile deal, Iran may already have received advanced Russian shoulder-fired air-defense systems. Reports from February 22–24, 2026 state that Tehran signed a secret $589 million arms agreement with Russia for thousands of 9K333 Verba man-portable air-defense systems. According to leaked documents first reported by the Financial Times, the agreement was signed in Moscow in December 2025. Russia reportedly committed to delivering 500 launch units and 2,500 missiles.
The Verba is Russia’s most modern shoulder-fired air-defense system, using a multispectral optical seeker resistant to common aircraft countermeasures. It is designed to target cruise missiles, drones, helicopters, and low-flying strike aircraft operating below traditional radar coverage.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War say the purchase reflects a shift in Iranian military doctrine after the June 2025 Twelve-Day War. Following the destruction of large fixed radar systems in U.S. and Israeli strikes, Iran appears to be moving toward a distributed air-defense model using small mobile teams. Unlike radar-based systems, the Verba can operate without emitting a detectable signature, allowing concealed units to engage aircraft with little warning. The sale is also viewed as a way for Moscow to repair ties with Tehran after Russia did not intervene directly on Iran’s behalf during the 2025 conflict. Although official deliveries reportedly run from 2027 to 2029, intelligence reports indicate some emergency units may already have arrived via Russian cargo aircraft observed landing in Karaj earlier this month. Leaked pricing suggests roughly $200,000 per missile and about $47,000 per launcher.
Both China and Russia risk additional sanctions if these transfers proceed. Russia is already heavily sanctioned, and the United States imports relatively little from it, limiting Washington’s remaining economic leverage. China, however, would be far more exposed to secondary sanctions and tariff penalties given the scale of its trade with the United States.
On February 6, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order designed to penalize countries that materially support Iran. The order authorizes targeted tariffs of up to 25 percent on any country that “directly or indirectly” acquires goods or services from Iran and expands secondary sanctions aimed at foreign entities, including state-owned firms such as China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation. President Trump confirmed he discussed Iran during a February 4 phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. According to reports, Trump warned that Chinese military support for Iran—particularly advanced weapons transfers—would jeopardize relations between the two leaders and could affect ongoing trade discussions ahead of his planned April visit to Beijing.
The United States has positioned itself for what former senior Pentagon official Dana Stroul described as a “highly kinetic” campaign against Iran, following one of the largest recent U.S. military buildups in the Middle East. She said U.S. forces are prepared for sustained offensive operations if ordered by President Trump and can rapidly reposition global assets to deploy overwhelming force in a single theater. The buildup includes expanded naval and air capabilities beyond those used in the June 2025 strikes on Iranian-linked nuclear targets. Two U.S. aircraft carriers—USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln—are operating in or moving toward the CENTCOM theater, potentially positioned between the eastern Mediterranean and the Arabian Gulf.
Additional guided-missile destroyers, fighter aircraft, refueling planes, and air-defense systems have also been deployed. The presence of the Ford enhances U.S. offensive capability and signals deterrence, reflecting broader and more sustained readiness than in prior limited strikes.
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