Iran, China in Final Talks Over Supersonic Anti-Ship Missiles, Reuters Reports
Iran and China are nearing a deal for advanced supersonic anti-ship missiles that could significantly alter the military balance in the Gulf region.
Reuters reported, citing six informed sources, that Tehran and Beijing are in the final stages of negotiations over the sale of CM-302 anti-ship cruise missiles. The talks reportedly accelerated after last year’s brief but intense conflict between Iran and Israel, which depleted parts of Iran’s missile arsenal.
The CM-302 missile, designed to target aircraft carriers and destroyers, has a range of nearly three hundred kilometers and can be launched from ships, aircraft, or mobile ground platforms. Defense experts told Reuters that its low-altitude, high-speed flight profile would make interception by naval defense systems extremely difficult.
If deployed along Iran’s coastline, analysts say the missile could pose a direct threat to U.S. naval assets and allied vessels operating in the Gulf. China has described the system as among the most advanced anti-ship missiles in its arsenal.
The report notes that discussions over the potential purchase began at least two years ago but gained significant momentum following the recent regional conflict. Several senior Iranian military and government officials are said to have traveled to China during the summer as talks intensified.
Any finalized transfer would likely conflict with reimposed United Nations restrictions on arms transfers to Iran, which were restored after the collapse of earlier nuclear understandings. Tehran, Beijing, and Moscow have rejected the renewed sanctions as illegitimate.
The United States has recently increased its naval and air deployments near Iranian waters, while warning that failure to reach a new nuclear agreement could prompt tougher measures. The evolving military posture has heightened tensions across the region.
It remains unclear whether Beijing will proceed with the transfer amid the risk of further escalation between Tehran and Washington. The reported negotiations nonetheless signal deepening strategic coordination between Iran and China at a sensitive geopolitical moment.
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