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Iran is close to a deal with China to purchase anti\u2011ship cruise missiles, according to six people with knowledge of the negotiations, just as the United States deploys a vast naval force near the Iranian coast ahead of possible strikes on the Islamic Republic.<\/p>\n
The deal for the Chinese\u2011made CM\u2011302 missiles is near completion, though no delivery date has been agreed, the people said. The supersonic missiles have a range of about 290 kilometres and are designed to evade shipborne defences by flying low and fast. Their deployment would significantly enhance Iran\u2019s strike capabilities and pose a threat to US naval forces in the region, two weapons experts said.<\/p>\n
Negotiations with China to buy the missile weapons systems, which began at least two years ago, accelerated sharply after the 12\u2011day war between Israel and Iran in June, according to the six people with knowledge of the talks, including three officials who were briefed by the Iranian government as well as three security officials. <\/p>\n
As talks entered their final stages last summer, senior Iranian military and government officials travelled to China, including Massoud Oraei, Iran\u2019s deputy defence minister, according to two of the security officials. Oraei\u2019s visit has not been previously reported.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a complete gamechanger if Iran has supersonic capability to attack ships in the area,\u201d said Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence officer and now senior Iran researcher at Israel\u2019s Institute for National Security Studies think tank. \u201cThese missiles are very difficult to intercept.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reuters<\/i> could not determine how many missiles were involved in the potential deal, how much Iran had agreed to pay, or whether China would go through with the agreement now given heightened tensions in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cIran has military and security agreements with its allies, and now is an appropriate time to make use of these agreements,\u201d an Iranian foreign ministry official told Reuters<\/i>.<\/p>\n
The Chinese delegation to the United Nations directed Reuters<\/i> to seek comment from the Foreign Ministry in Beijing. The foreign and defense ministries did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n
The White House did not directly address the negotiations between Iran and China over the missile system when asked by Reuters<\/i>. US President Donald Trump has been clear that \u201ceither we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,\u201d a White House official said, referring to the current standoff with Iran.<\/p>\n
The missiles would be among the most advanced military hardware to be transferred to Iran by China and defy a United Nations weapons embargo that was first imposed in 2006. The sanctions were suspended in 2015 as part of a nuclear deal with the US and allies, and then reimposed last September.<\/p>\n
The potential sale would underscore deepening military ties between China and Iran at a moment of heightened regional tension, complicating US efforts to contain Iran\u2019s missile programme and curb its nuclear activities. It would also signal China\u2019s growing willingness to assert itself in a region long dominated by US military might.<\/p>\n
While hosting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for a military parade in Beijing in September, Chinese President Xi Jinping told the Iranian leader that “China supports Iran in safeguarding sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n
China joined Russia and Iran in a joint letter on October 18 to say they believed the decision to reimpose sanctions was flawed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIran has become a battlefield between the US\u201d on one side and Russia and China on the other, said one of the officials who was briefed by Iran\u2019s government on the missile negotiations.<\/p>\n
The deal comes as the US assembles an armada within striking distance of Iran, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group. The USS Gerald R. Ford and its escorts are also heading to the region. The two ships together can carry more than 5,000 personnel and 150 aircraft.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina does not want to see a pro-Western regime in Iran,\u201d said Citrinowicz, the Israeli specialist on Iran. \u201cThat would be a threat to their interests. They are hoping that this regime will stay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump said on February 19 he was giving Iran 10 days to reach an agreement over its nuclear programme or face military action. The US is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if Trump orders an attack, Reuters<\/i> reported on February 13.<\/p>\nA depleted arsenal\u00a0<\/h2>\n
The CM-302 purchase would be a significant improvement in an Iranian arsenal depleted by last year\u2019s war, said Pieter Wezeman, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.<\/p>\n
China\u2019s state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) markets the CM-302 as the world\u2019s best anti-ship missile, capable of sinking an aircraft carrier or destroyer. The weapons system can be mounted on ships, aircraft or mobile ground vehicles. It can also take out targets on land.<\/p>\n
CASIC did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n
Iran is also in discussions to acquire Chinese surface\u2011to\u2011air missile systems, so-called MANPADS, anti\u2011ballistic weapons, and anti-satellite weapons, the six people said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n