China secretly arming Iran with anti-aircraft missiles, reports say

China is reportedly in the process of supplying Iran with a substantial number of portable anti-aircraft missile systems, according to three sources familiar with the contract cited by Reuters. The deal is said to involve between 300 and 400 QW-12 and FN-16 systems, with an estimated value of $60-70 million.

If confirmed, this would represent one of Tehran's most significant efforts to enhance its short-range air defenses since the U.S. initiated Operation "Epic Fury." The conflict has exposed vulnerabilities in Iran's ability to protect military installations and strategic infrastructure from aerial attacks.

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The contract includes 300 to 400 portable anti-aircraft systems QW-12 and FN-16, and its value is estimated at $60-70 million.

The contract reportedly involves a Hong Kong-registered intermediary company, Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment, acting as a go-between for the Iranian side and the Chinese manufacturer. Initial deliveries are planned via air from Urumqi in western China, with subsequent transit through Pakistan. Details regarding the final leg of the journey, whether by air or land, remain unspecified.

Despite the reports, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has vehemently denied the claims, labeling them "baseless" and reaffirming Beijing's commitment to peace. Pakistan, a close ally of China and a significant recipient of Chinese weaponry, has also denied involvement. Iran has not officially commented on the matter. The transaction structure, utilizing an intermediary and transit through a third country, appears designed to allow Beijing to deny direct involvement, a tactic previously suggested by U.S. intelligence assessments regarding potential MANPADS deliveries to Iran.

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The Chinese Foreign Ministry called the agency's reports completely 'baseless,' declaring that Beijing consistently advocates for peace.