Iran continues advanced negotiations with China to purchase hypersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, while the United States is amassing a large naval force near its coast in preparation for possible military strikes.

Published on: 02/25/2026 - 01:23Last updated: 02/25/2026 - 08:07

Iran is close to concluding a deal with China to purchase CM-302 supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, at a time when the United States is amassing a large naval force near its coast in preparation for possible military strikes. Informed sources say that the negotiations have entered their final stage, but the delivery date has not yet been decided.

The missile has a range of about 290 kilometers, and is designed to fly at high speed and low altitude to avoid naval defenses. Experts confirm that Iran's possession of these missiles will greatly enhance its offensive capabilities and increase its threat to US naval forces in the region.

Six sources, including government and security officials, explain that negotiations with China began at least two years ago and accelerated after the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June. It indicates that a high-level Iranian delegation, which included the Deputy Minister of Defense, visited China last summer as the talks entered their decisive phase.

Read also: Trump questions reports claiming that the US Chief of Staff warned of a large-scale military operation against Iran

In Tehran, a Foreign Ministry official said that Iran has “military and security agreements with its allies, and now is the right time to benefit from them.” On the other hand, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it was not aware of the talks revealed by Reuters, while the Chinese Ministry of Defense declined to comment.

In Washington, the White House did not comment directly on the potential deal, but linked its position to the broader confrontation with Iran, noting that US President Donald Trump warned Tehran of the need to reach an agreement on its nuclear program within a specific deadline or face “very strict measures.”

This deal, if concluded, would reflect the deepening military partnership between China and Iran, its continued challenge to the sanctions regime and the arming of Tehran, at a moment when American aircraft carriers are crowding near the Gulf and the country is turning into an arena of direct competition between the United States on the one hand and China and Russia on the other.

France 24/AFP

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