Iran nears a deal to buy supersonic anti-ship missiles from China

Iran is now in talks with China to purchase supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, which would considerably raise the game to a higher level in the Middle East because U.S carrier strike groups are already forming within range of the Islamic Republic.

On Tuesday, Reuters reported Tehran was preparing to close a deal on Chinese-made CM-392 missiles, quoting six interviewees who have knowledge of the talks.

The high-speed missiles capable of covering a distance of about 180 miles and with low levels to avoid the defence of the ships would bolster the capability of Iran to attack the American naval forces within the area.

The transition is almost final, but the date of delivery is yet to be agreed upon, the people said. The number of missiles involved is not clear, whether Iran has committed to paying a lot or not, and even whether China will eventually follow through as the tensions in the region increase.

According to Reuters, the pace of negotiations has increased following the 12 days of war between Israel and Iran last year, which led to the exhaustion of Tehran’s military infrastructure and increased tension in the region.

The announced agreement is against a backdrop of President Donald Trump threatening Tenran with consequences as long as it does not reduce its nuclear programme, as the Pentagon has also moved a series of carrier strike groups to the area, and these include the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R.Ford.

The accumulation is one of the most massive US naval deployments in the area in the past few years.

On February 19, Trump announced he was giving Iran 10 days to agree on the nuclear programme, or the US might use military force.

The White House official informed Fox News Digital that the president stands by the fact that Iran cannot make nuclear weapons or enrich uranium.

 “The President would like to see a deal negotiated, but he has been clear that either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,” the official said when asked for comment on the reported approaching Iran-China deal.

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatend the warships of the US last week.

More dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea,” Khamenei wrote on Feb 17 on X. 

When questioned about the alleged missile talks, the White House made no specific response to the differences. China’s Foreign Ministry informed the outlet that it was not aware of the talks.

The possible delivery would be one of the most high-tech Chinese weapons systems that it has ever sold to Iran in several decades, and would be a challenge to the U.S sanctions authorities in case it were concluded.

With the US troops spreading out into the region, defence officials have emphasised that the build-up is aimed at preventing any Iranian aggression but said that they are ready to fight in case of failure in diplomacy.