Iran has concluded a clandestine €500mn (approximately $541mn) weapons agreement with Moscow to procure thousands of advanced portable air defence systems, as Tehran moves to replenish military capabilities lost during its conflict with Israel last year, the Financial Times reported on February 22.

The contract, concluded in the Russian capital in December following a visit by Iran's security chief Ali Larijani, obligates Moscow to supply 500 Verba shoulder-fired launch units alongside 2,500 9M336 missiles, with deliveries phased across three tranches running from 2027 to 2029.

Earlier, IntelliNews reports previously indicated an increased number of flights coming from both Belarus and Russia, in the run-up to the deadly protests that left several thousand dead. 

The FT said it based its reporting on leaked Russian documents and multiple sources with direct knowledge of the arrangement. Russian media has also reported the British paper's report without confirming it.

Iran's defence establishment submitted its request for the systems in July last year, shortly after a 12-day military confrontation in which US forces joined Israeli strikes against three of Tehran's nuclear facilities.

The transaction was brokered by Ruhollah Katebi, an Iranian defence official based in Moscow, who had previously facilitated the transfer of Iranian Fath-360 short-range ballistic missiles to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine.

Negotiations were held in Moscow between Rosoboronexport, the Kremlin's arms export body, and a representative of Iran's Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics.

Individual 9M336 missiles are priced at €170,000 each under the contract, with launch systems costing €40,000 each. The package also covers 500 night-vision targeting sights. The total contract value is listed at €495mn.

The Verba system uses infrared guidance and can be operated by small mobile units, allowing forces to establish dispersed defensive positions without fixed radar infrastructure, which proved vulnerable during last year's strikes.

Iran has seen increased shipments of weapons since December, with flights from Russia, China and Belarus allegedly supplying the latest technology those countries have to offer, including scramblers used in the recent protest movements. 

Iran has strengthened its defensive capabilities since its 12-day war with Israel in 2025 and is prepared to protect itself should hostilities resume, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with CBS on February 22.

"We are in an even better position than during the previous war. We are in a strong position in terms of self-defence. We know how to protect ourselves. We did it during the 12-day war and are fully prepared to do so again if necessary," Araghchi said.

Acknowledging that Iran had faced difficulties with its air defence systems during the conflict, Araghchi said Israel had confronted similar problems.

"They started the war but after 12 days asked for a ceasefire — an unconditional ceasefire. Why? Because they could not defend themselves against our missiles," he said.

Israel launched a military operation against Iran on June 13, 2025. Iran responded within 24 hours. The United States entered the conflict nine days later, striking Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan on June 22.

Tehran responded the following day with missile strikes against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in the Middle East. A ceasefire took effect on June 24, 2025.