Iran is on the verge of acquiring supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles from China, as the United States intensifies its naval presence in the Middle East in anticipation of a potential conflict with the Islamic Republic, a recent report suggests.
According to sources cited by Reuters, Tehran is close to finalizing the purchase of Chinese CM-302 missiles. These missiles boast a striking range of approximately 180 miles and can travel swiftly and at low altitudes, making them difficult for ships’ aerial defenses to detect and intercept.
Experts caution that these missiles could significantly enhance Iran’s strike capabilities, presenting a substantial threat to the increasing number of American naval forces in the region.
“The introduction of supersonic capabilities for ship attacks by Iran would completely alter the strategic landscape,” remarked Danny Citrinowicz, a senior researcher on Iran at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies.
“Intercepting these missiles poses a significant challenge,” the former Israeli intelligence officer noted.
The CM-302, developed by China’s state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, is heralded as the premier anti-ship missile globally, with claims that it can even sink an aircraft carrier or destroyer.
Iran has been in talks with China on purchasing the advanced missile for at least two years, with the negotiations speeding up after its recent 12-day war with Israel, six Iranian government and security officials told Reuters.
During the conflict, Iran saw its arsenal greatly depleted after Israel’s bombardments, said Pieter Wezeman, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Tehran and Beijing entered the final stages of their missile-buying deal after the strike, with Iranian deputy Defense Minister Massoud Oraei allegedly traveling to China to help close it out.
It remains unclear when a delivery date could take place or exactly how many missiles would be involved once the deal is sealed.
“Iran has military and security agreements with its allies and now is an appropriate time to make use of these agreements,” an Iranian foreign ministry official told Reuters about the potential deal.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it was not aware of negotiations over the reputed deal.
An arrangement of this kind would be the largest military trade between Iran and China yet — and defy a United Nations weapons embargo originally put in place in 2006 and then reinstated last year.
Along with the long-range weapons, Iran is also in talks to purchase Chinese surface‑to‑air missile systems, so-called MANPADS, anti‑ballistic weapons and anti-satellite weapons, according to Reuters.
The build-up in arms comes as the US continues to increase its military forces in the Middle East region, with Trump warning of looming attacks on Iran if the Islamic Republic does not agree to a new nuclear deal.
Tehran has warned that any attack on Iran would result in retaliatory strikes on US troops and allies in the region.
With Post wires
