Iran allegedly receives hundreds of anti-aircraft shoulder-fired missiles from Russia and China

Iran has received hundreds of Chinese and Russian shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles in recent weeks as it works to rebuild air defenses heavily damaged in its conflict with the United States and ‘Israel’, according to Iranian opposition leaders who spoke to the US-funded Arabic-speaking outlet Alhurra.

The opposition figures, from Kurdish and Ahwazi Arab groups, said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps acquired three types of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS).

These were distributed to military sites, urban centers, and border regions across Iran, with some transferred to allied armed groups in Iraq.

Hamid Motashar, head of the Ahwazi Liberal Party, said Iran received about 400 launchers of the Chinese QW-12 and FN-16 systems, along with ammunition and spare parts, in four air shipments from Urumqi in northwestern China via Pakistani airspace.

He stated the IRGC Aerospace Force deployed the systems in interior regions, including Ahvaz, to protect command centers and military installations.

Motashar also claimed Iranian forces used one of the Chinese systems to shoot down a US-made Lucas drone near Bandar Abbas on July 13.

Separately, three Kurdish opposition leaders reported that Iran received about 300 Russian-made 9K333 Verba MANPADS, with their missiles, in five small shipments delivered across the Caspian Sea.

These systems were deployed near military bases and sensitive facilities in Tehran, Kermanshah, Isfahan, Mashhad, the border with Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, and Iranian ports overlooking the Strait of Hormuz.

Negotiations for the Chinese systems reportedly began during Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Beijing in May, accompanied by IRGC and Aerospace Force officials, with the deal signed in mid-June.

Tehran has sought to restore its air defenses since May after ‘Israeli’ Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said in early March that ‘Israeli’ forces had destroyed about 80 percent of Iran’s air defense systems.

Earlier reporting by Reuters in late July indicated Iran was expected to receive up to 400 Chinese QW-12 and FN-16 MANPADS under a $60-70 million deal via a Hong Kong intermediary, with initial deliveries planned from Urumqi through Pakistan.

China dismissed that report as groundless, and Pakistan denied involvement.

Analyst Farzin Karbasi said Tehran is using ceasefire periods to repair sites and expand defenses with Chinese and Russian support, while also modifying drones with jet engines.