Financial Times: Iran made a shoulder-mounted missiles worth $500 million arm deal with Russia
Iran has struck a deal with Russia worth nearly $500 million to buy thousands of advanced man-portable missiles, as part of its efforts to rebuild its air defense system, the Financial Times reported.
According to information obtained by the Financial Times newspaper, the deal between Iran and Russia was concluded in Moscow in December 2025, with no immediate comment from Tehran and Moscow on what the Financial Times reported.
The agreement stipulates that Russia will deliver to Iran, within three years, 500 VERBA portable launch pads along with 2,500 9M336 missiles.
According to the agreement, the delivery of the missiles is planned in three separate phases between 2027 and 2029.
In contrast, some informed sources have reported that some of the regimes may have been delivered to Iran ahead of the scheduled date.
Following the attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran in June 2025 and the 12-day war, Tehran formally requested these defense systems from Russia in July 2025, the sources noted.
The sources said that Iran made this request with the aim of strengthening its defense capabilities and protecting its strategic facilities after those attacks.
The VERBA platform is known as one of Russia’s most advanced air defense systems, as it can be used effectively against guided missiles and low-flying drones.
In recent weeks, the United States has beefed up its military presence in the region and sent additional naval vessels, despite ongoing negotiations with Tehran amid threats of an attack on Iran.
