Iran has reportedly agreed to a clandestine €500 million arms deal with Russia to acquire thousands of advanced man-portable missile systems, according to the Financial Times. The agreement, signed in Moscow in December, commits Russia to deliver 500 Verba launch units and 2,500 9M336 missiles over a three-year period, with shipments scheduled in tranches from 2027 through 2029. Leaked Russian documents reviewed by the Financial Times, alongside sources familiar with the negotiations, detail the transaction between Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport and Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.
The deal was initiated after Tehran formally requested the systems last July, amid heightened tensions following U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2026. While former President Donald Trump claimed the strikes had destroyed key Iranian sites, preliminary U.S. intelligence assessments indicated the attacks only delayed Tehran’s nuclear capabilities by a few months. Iranian officials have since asserted that the country’s military capabilities have fully recovered and are stronger than before.
The arms transfer underscores the deepening strategic partnership between Russia and Iran, though the treaty does not contain a mutual defense clause. Military cooperation has been visible in recent weeks, including joint naval maneuvers in the Gulf of Oman conducted by a Russian corvette and the Iranian navy. Analysts warn that the deal could significantly enhance Iran’s air defense capabilities, complicating U.S. and allied military planning in the region and potentially reshaping the balance of power across the Gulf.
While the Financial Times report cannot be independently verified, the leaked documents and corroborating sources indicate a carefully negotiated arrangement designed to reinforce Tehran’s tactical capabilities without overtly violating international scrutiny, highlighting the growing sophistication of Russia-Iran military collaboration.
