A classified weapons agreement valued at 500 million euros ($589 million) between Iran and Russia has come to light, according to a Financial Times investigation published Sunday.
The confidential contract, finalized in Moscow this past December, outlines Russia’s commitment to supply 500 portable “Verba” launching systems along with 2,500 “9M336” missiles spanning three years, the Financial Times reported. The publication cited confidential Russian documentation and multiple sources with knowledge of the arrangement.
Reuters has not been able to independently confirm these details.
The weapons shipments are planned to occur in three separate deliveries between 2027 and 2029, according to the Financial Times report.
Negotiations took place between Rosoboronexport, Russia’s government-owned arms export company, and Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics representative stationed in Moscow, the Financial Times stated.
Iran initially submitted a formal request for these weapon systems in July of last year, based on contractual documents reviewed by the Financial Times. This request came after U.S. military forces targeted Iran’s three primary nuclear installations in June, during Iran’s involvement in Israel’s military operations against the country.
President Donald Trump announced that the strikes successfully eliminated Iran’s major nuclear infrastructure. A preliminary U.S. intelligence evaluation, however, indicated that while the attacks caused damage, they did not completely eliminate Iran’s nuclear program and only delayed it by several months.
Tehran officials have consistently maintained that Iran has bounced back from the wartime damage and claims its military capabilities have reached unprecedented levels.
Iran and Russia maintain a strategic alliance agreement, though it lacks provisions for mutual military defense. This month, a Russian naval vessel participated in joint exercises with Iran’s navy in the Gulf of Oman, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported.
