A new report by Reuters, citing three sources, states that Iran is expected to receive up to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air defense systems (MANPADS) within weeks, under a contract valued at $60–70 million. The deal includes QW-12 and FN-16 missiles, with shipments routed through Pakistan from Urumqi, China. The intermediary is a Hong Kong-based company, Zhongqing Baoshang.
A new Reuters report, citing three unnamed sources, adds specific details to the previously reported deal for Chinese shoulder-fired air defense systems to Iran. The report states that Tehran is expected to receive up to 400 QW-12 and FN-16 MANPADS within weeks, under a contract valued at $60–70 million. The shipment is routed by air from Urumqi in western China through Pakistan, with a Hong Kong-based company, Zhongqing Baoshang, serving as the intermediary.
The Zioneer first reported on Wednesday, Jul 29, at 06:52 Jerusalem, that Iran was set to receive 300–400 Chinese MANPADS. Throughout the day, multiple updates specified the weapon models, the transit route, and the cost. By Wednesday evening at 22:49 Jerusalem, President Trump said he was told China would not participate in arming Iran. Today at 13:22 Jerusalem, China officially denied reports of planning to supply air defense systems to Tehran. The new Reuters report, the latest in the thread, provides the intermediary company and clarifies the routing.
The deal is part of Iran's efforts to rebuild its short-range air defense capabilities, which were degraded during the recent conflict with the United States and Israel. The Zioneer has previously reported on the broader context of Iran-China military cooperation and U.S. efforts to prevent arms transfers to Tehran.
The deal has not been independently confirmed by Israeli or Western officials. The precise delivery timeline remains unclear, and both China and Pakistan have denied the earlier reports, leaving the actual implementation uncertain.
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