NextFin News - In a move that significantly alters the security landscape of the Middle East, Russia and Iran have reportedly finalized a secret arms agreement worth approximately €500 million ($589 million) for the acquisition of advanced anti-aircraft missile systems. According to the Financial Times, which cited leaked Russian documents and sources familiar with the matter on February 22, 2026, the deal was signed in Moscow in December 2025. The contract involves the delivery of 500 "Verba" Man-Portable Air-Defense System (MANPADS) launch units and 2,500 9M336 surface-to-air missiles over a three-year period, with deliveries scheduled in three tranches between 2027 and 2029.
The negotiations were conducted between the Russian state weapons exporter Rosoboronexport and representatives from the Iranian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL). This development follows a formal request from Tehran in July 2025, shortly after U.S. and Israeli forces conducted strikes against three major Iranian nuclear facilities in June. The timing of the disclosure is particularly sensitive, as U.S. President Trump has recently amassed the largest American military force in the region since 2003, threatening further strikes if Iran does not accept stringent new limits on its nuclear program. While the official delivery schedule begins in 2027, some intelligence sources suggest that certain components may have already reached Iranian soil to address immediate defensive gaps.
The acquisition of the Verba system represents a qualitative leap for Iran’s air defense architecture. Unlike older generations of MANPADS, the Verba utilizes a unique three-band multispectral optical seeker, making it significantly more resistant to modern flares and laser-based directed infrared countermeasures. For Tehran, the primary objective is to mitigate the threat posed by low-flying cruise missiles, drones, and tactical aircraft—the very assets utilized in the June 2025 strikes. By deploying these highly mobile, shoulder-fired units, Iran can create a decentralized and unpredictable "no-go zone" for low-altitude incursions without relying on large, vulnerable radar installations that are easily targeted by anti-radiation missiles.
From a geopolitical perspective, this deal cements a "defense of necessity" between Moscow and Tehran. Russia, currently navigating its own complex military requirements, appears willing to trade advanced technology for continued Iranian support in other theaters. The €500 million price tag, while substantial, is secondary to the strategic value of maintaining Iran as a regional counterweight to U.S. influence. For U.S. President Trump, this secret pact complicates the "maximum pressure" strategy. The presence of Verba missiles increases the potential "cost of entry" for any future surgical strikes, as the risk of losing high-value manned aircraft or sophisticated cruise missiles to man-portable systems rises exponentially.
The economic implications of the deal are equally telling. The use of Euro-denominated pricing, as noted in the leaked documents, highlights the ongoing efforts by both nations to bypass the U.S. dollar-dominated financial system. This financial engineering is a direct response to the sanctions regimes imposed by Washington. Furthermore, the three-year delivery window suggests a long-term commitment to military integration, potentially paving the way for future sales of more advanced systems, such as the S-400 or Su-35 fighter jets, which have been subjects of intermittent negotiation for years.
Looking ahead, the proliferation of Verba systems in the Middle East is likely to trigger a new arms race in electronic countermeasures. Regional adversaries, particularly Israel and the Gulf states, will likely accelerate investments in advanced jamming technology and unmanned wingmen to scout for MANPADS teams. As U.S. President Trump prepares for the upcoming nuclear talks in Geneva on February 26, the revelation of this deal provides Tehran with significant leverage, signaling that it is not only prepared to negotiate but is actively fortifying its sovereign airspace against any military alternative. The trend suggests that the Russia-Iran axis is evolving from a transactional relationship into a formal, multi-layered strategic alliance capable of challenging Western air superiority in the region.
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