In what would represent a significant reinforcement of its capabilities to defend its coasts, Iran’s Armed Forces would be close to finalizing the purchase of new CM-302 anti-ship missiles from China, coinciding with a period of heightened tensions with the United States and a major naval deployment involving two Carrier Strike Groups. The news was reported by Reuters, which claims to have consulted up to six sources familiar with the negotiations, who, however, were unable to provide a specific date by which the agreement might be reached or the subsequent delivery carried out.
Expanding on aspects related to the negotiations, the report details that they would have begun at least two years ago, but were particularly accelerated following the war fought between the regime and Israel last June. According to Iranian officials consulted, Tehran even sent a delegation led by Deputy Defense Minister Massoud Oraei to China, accompanied by a group of officials from the defense ministry and the foreign affairs portfolio. The number of missiles Iran would be seeking to add to its arsenal, however, remains unknown.
On the other hand, it should be noted that Beijing has not issued any official statement regarding the potential operation, and some Chinese diplomatic officials have even denied that it is taking place, thus creating an ambiguous environment regarding its details, should it indeed exist. From the U.S. side, neither the Pentagon nor the White House has expressed a specific position on the matter, while President Trump maintains his stance of “doing something very tough like last time” if a new nuclear agreement with Iran is not reached.
From a more technical perspective, it is worth highlighting that the CM-302 missile under negotiation would be a variant of the YJ-12B missile, characterized by a range of around 290 kilometers and by its ability to conduct its terminal approach at low altitude and high speed, thereby complicating any interception attempt by the air defenses of the targeted vessel. In addition, each missile would feature an inertial guidance system complemented by an active radar seeker, providing autonomy to lock onto the target in the terminal phase. Other reports also indicate a capability to perform erratic maneuvers, further complicating the defender’s response.
With these and other characteristics in mind, U.S. experts have already begun warning about the danger that the arrival of such weaponry in Iranian hands would represent, particularly given plans to maintain a presence in the Middle East aimed at pressuring Iran, primarily supported by the aircraft carriers USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford. The former is already deployed there with its escort, while the latter is en route to the region after completing a nearly 200-day deployment in the Caribbean, during which it participated in operations against the Venezuelan dictatorship.
Even beyond the CM-302 missiles themselves, the defense relationship between Iran and China appears to be strengthening, raising concerns among U.S. strategists, with previous reports also pointing to other military equipment purchases by Tehran from Beijing. By way of illustration, it is useful to recall that in September 2025 it was revealed that negotiations were underway for new HQ-9 air defense systems, seeking to reinforce capabilities significantly degraded following the “Midnight Hammer” and “Rising Lion” operations carried out by Israeli and U.S. forces.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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