Iran to receive up to 400 Chinese shoulder-fired missiles within weeks
The US$60 million-US$70 million deal is said to include QW-12 and FN-16 missiles, with an initial route from Urumqi via Pakistan denied by Islamabad.
Iran is expected to receive its first shipment of up to 400 Chinese man-portable air defense systems in the coming weeks as Tehran seeks to close gaps in its defenses after the war with the United States and Israel. Three sources cited by Reuters said the deal is worth US$60 million to US$70 million and covers 300-400 MANPADS, including QW-12 and FN-16 missiles. The contract was said to have been signed through Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment, a Hong Kong-based company acting as an intermediary. China’s Foreign Ministry denied the report and called it groundless. The same sources said the initial shipment was planned to leave Urumqi in western China and transit through Pakistan, but the Pakistani military denied any involvement.