Hundreds of MANPADS from Russia and China – Iran strengthens air defense after war

Iran, taking advantage of the ceasefire, received about 300 modern man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) from Russia and China via the Caspian Sea. The shipment included Russian 9K333 Verba and Chinese Raba systems. The IRGC distributed the systems to key sites, including Tehran, Isfahan, and the Strait of Hormuz. Some weapons were transferred to Shiite militias in Iraq.

Iran, taking advantage of the ceasefire, received about 300 modern man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) from Russia and China. This was reported by Channel 7, citing the American Arabic-language outlet Al-Hurra, which in turn cites representative groups of Kurdish and Arab opposition in the province of Ahvaz. According to opposition sources, the logistics operation was carried out covertly: the cargo was transported across the Caspian Sea in five small sea containers. The shipment included Russian 9K333 Verba and Chinese Raba systems. Immediately after unloading, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) took control of transportation and moved the systems to key military sites. The received MANPADS were deployed in high-risk areas: the outskirts of Tehran, Isfahan, Kermanshah, the coastal strip of the Strait of Hormuz, and areas near the border with Iraqi Kurdistan. In addition, over the past two weeks, Iran has transferred some of the systems to Shiite militias under its control in Iraq. Earlier, Kursor reported that Iran stated a condition for opening the Strait of Hormuz.