Iran Acquires Hundreds of Shoulder-Fired Missiles from China and Russia to Rebuild Air Defense

Iran has reportedly received hundreds of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles from China and Russia during ceasefire periods, aiming to restore its air defense systems severely damaged in conflicts with the United States and Israel. Iranian opposition leaders told MBN channel that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps obtained three types of MANPADS and deployed them in urban centers, military sites, and border areas, with some weapons transferred to Iraqi militias.

Hamid Moteshar, head of the Ahvaz Liberal Party, stated that Iran received about 400 QW-12 and FN-16 launchers in four cargo flights from China via Pakistani airspace, including ammunition and spare parts. These systems were deployed in Ahvaz to protect facilities and command centers and were reportedly used by the Iranian military to shoot down a drone near Bandar Abbas on July 13, a claim not reported by the U.S.

Additionally, three Kurdish opposition leaders revealed that Iran received approximately 300 Russian 9K333 Verba missiles in five sea shipments through the Caspian Sea, deploying them in Tehran, Kermanshah, Isfahan, Mashhad, border areas, and near the Strait of Hormuz. Kurdish-Iranian political analyst Farzin Karbasi noted that Tehran is using ceasefires to repair missile sites and upgrade drones with jet engines to increase speed and explosive payload capacity.

Conversely, strategic analyst Amer Al-Sabeila assessed that these portable systems will not alter the balance against U.S. air superiority but could threaten low-altitude aircraft in early conflict stages and provide Iran with propaganda gains. MBN emphasized it could not independently verify shipment details or quantities, and Iran, China, and Russia have not publicly commented on the alleged deals. This report follows Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir's March estimate that Israeli forces destroyed about 80% of Iran's air defense systems.