Iran Preparing to Buy 400 Portable Air Defence Systems from China: Sources

Iran is reportedly preparing to strengthen its air defence capabilities by acquiring portable air defence systems from China following months of conflict with the United States and Israel.

According to sources, Iran is expected to receive its first shipment of Chinese-made shoulder-fired air defence systems in the coming weeks. Under the reported deal, Iran is set to purchase between 300 and 400 QW-12 and FN-16 systems at a cost of around $60 million to $70 million.

The deal was reportedly arranged through a Hong Kong-based company and is being described as a major step to strengthen Iran’s short-range air defence after the war.

The systems are capable of targeting low-flying military aircraft, helicopters and drones.

However, China’s Foreign Ministry has rejected the report, calling it completely baseless. Pakistan’s military media wing, ISPR, has also strongly denied reports claiming that the Chinese weapons would be transported to Iran through Pakistani territory, describing the allegations as fabricated and false.