Reuters: first shipment of up to 400 Chinese shoulder-fired air-defence systems due in Iran within weeks; Beijing denies it

Reuters reported on Wednesday 29 July 2026, citing three sources familiar with the deal, that Iran expects to receive within weeks the first shipment out of a total of up to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air-defence missile launchers. The sources put the value of the purchase at $60 million to $70 million, with the contract covering between 300 and 400 man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS), including Chinese-made QW-12 and FN-16 missiles.

The report said the contract was signed with Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment, a Hong Kong-based company the sources described as an intermediary between the Iranian side and the Chinese supplier. Under the agreed plan, deliveries would initially go by air from Urumqi in western China and then transit through Pakistan. The sources cautioned that although the agreement had been signed, delivery schedules, quantities and other implementation details could still change.

China's Foreign Ministry responded that "the relevant reports are completely groundless", adding that China has consistently played a role in promoting peace and ending the conflict. Pakistan's military public relations wing, ISPR, said speculation that Pakistan was involved in supplying air-defence weapons from China to Iran was "absolutely concocted and false". Iran's Foreign Ministry did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment. Reuters had previously reported that Iran was close to a separate agreement with China to acquire anti-ship cruise missiles, but could not determine whether that agreement went through.