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Negotiations for the Chinese CM-302 system are nearing completion, as the US increases its military presence near the Iranian coast.
Iran is close to reaching a deal with China to buy anti-ship cruise missiles, Reuters reported, citing six people familiar with the negotiations. The development comes as the United States is deploying significant naval forces near the Iranian coast, on the verge of possible military action against the Islamic Republic.
According to sources, the deal for the Chinese CM-302 missiles is nearing completion, although the parties have not agreed on a delivery date. The supersonic missiles have a range of about 290 kilometers and fly at low altitudes at high speeds, aiming to evade naval defense systems. Two weapons experts estimated that their deployment would significantly increase Iran's strike capabilities and pose a threat to US naval forces in the region.
Negotiations with China to buy the missile systems began at least two years ago and accelerated after the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June, the same sources said. Three of them are officials briefed by the Iranian government and three are security officials. According to two security officials, during the final phase of the talks last summer, senior Iranian military and government officials traveled to China, including Deputy Defense Minister Massoud Oraei. His visit had not been previously reported.
Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence officer and now a fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel, told Reuters that an Iranian supersonic anti-ship capability would significantly change the military balance in the region. He noted that these missiles are difficult to intercept.
Reuters was unable to confirm the number of missiles involved in the potential deal, the financial value or whether China will finalize it due to heightened regional tensions.
An Iranian Foreign Ministry official told Reuters that Tehran has military and security agreements with its allies and that now is the right time to implement them.
The Chinese delegation to the United Nations referred Reuters to the Foreign Ministry in Beijing for comment, while China's foreign and defense ministries did not respond to requests for comment. The White House did not comment directly on the negotiations, but an official said U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will either make a deal with Iran or take tough measures, referring to the current standoff.
The CM-302 missiles would be among the most advanced military systems transferred from China to Iran and would defy a UN arms embargo imposed in 2006. Sanctions were suspended in 2015 as part of the nuclear deal with the US and its allies, but were reinstated in September last year.
The potential sale would deepen military ties between China and Iran at a time of high regional tension, complicating U.S. efforts to curb Iran's missile and nuclear activities. China, Iran and Russia hold annual joint naval exercises. Last year, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on several Chinese entities for supplying chemical components for Iran's ballistic missile program. Beijing has denied the charges and said it strictly enforces export controls on dual-use items.
During a military parade in Beijing in September, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that China supports Iran in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
One of the officials briefed on the negotiations told Reuters that Iran has become a battleground between the United States on one side and Russia and China on the other. This assessment is an interpretation of the source and not an official statement.
The potential deal comes as the US has sent the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its escort group to the region, as well as the USS Gerald R. Ford, which together can carry over 5,000 personnel and about 150 aircraft.
President Trump said on February 19 that he had given Iran 10 days to reach a deal on its nuclear program or face military action. Reuters reported on February 13 that the US is preparing for extended operations against Iran if the order to strike is given.
Pieter Wezeman, a researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), estimated that the purchase of the CM-302 would constitute a significant improvement for the Iranian arsenal, which he said was weakened by last year's war.
The state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) promotes the CM-302 as one of the most advanced anti-ship missiles, with the ability to hit land targets. The company did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.
According to the sources, Iran is also in talks with China about purchasing surface-to-air systems, anti-ballistic missile weapons and anti-satellite weapons. In the 1980s, China was a major arms supplier to Iran, but large-scale transfers declined in the late 1990s due to international pressure. In recent years, US officials have accused Chinese companies of supplying materials related to Iran's missile program, but have not publicly declared the supply of complete missile systems.
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