Iran is reported to be on the verge of concluding an agreement with\nChina for the purchase of supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles amid\nescalating military tensions with the United States. This step comes as\nWashington deploys substantial naval forces near Iran\u2019s coastline in\npreparation for potential military action against the nation.<\/p>\n
According to six sources familiar with the negotiations, the\nagreement for China-made CM-302 missiles is nearly finalised, although\nthe delivery date remains undecided. These supersonic missiles have a\nrange of approximately 290 kilometres and are designed to evade warship\ndefences by flying low and at extremely high speeds.<\/p>\n
Two weapons experts stated that the deployment of these missiles\nwould significantly enhance Iran\u2019s attack capabilities, posing a serious\nthreat to US naval forces in the region.<\/p>\n
Negotiations for this missile weapons system actually began at least\ntwo years ago but accelerated sharply following the 12-day conflict\nbetween Israel and Iran last June. Three officials briefed by the\nIranian government and three security officials stated that talks\nentered their final phase in the summer, marked by a visit from senior\nIranian military officials, including Deputy Defence Minister Massoud\nOraei, to China.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis would be a complete game-changer if Iran possesses supersonic\nattack capabilities against ships in the area. These missiles are\nextremely difficult to intercept,\u201d said Danny Citrinowicz, a former\nIsraeli intelligence officer now a senior Iran researcher at the\nInstitute for National Security Studies, in comments to Reuters.<\/p>\n
To date, the number of missile units involved in the agreement or the\ncontract value remains unclear. An Iranian Foreign Ministry official\ngave positive signals regarding this defence cooperation to Reuters.<\/p>\n
\u201cIran has military and security agreements with its allies, and now\nis the right time to utilise those agreements,\u201d the Iranian Foreign\nMinistry official stated.<\/p>\n
China, meanwhile, has responded more cautiously. In a statement\nfollowing the report\u2019s emergence, China\u2019s Foreign Ministry stated it was\nunaware of discussions regarding the potential sale of these\nmissiles.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ministry is unaware of any discussions regarding the reported\npotential sale of missiles,\u201d the Chinese Foreign Ministry\u2019s official\nstatement read.<\/p>\n
The White House did not directly respond to details of the Iran-China\nnegotiations. However, a White House official emphasised the firm\nposition of President Donald Trump, who has given Tehran an\nultimatum.<\/p>\n
\u201cPresident Donald Trump has made clear that his options are either we\nreach a deal or we have to do something very tough, like we did last\ntime,\u201d a White House official said, referring to current tensions.<\/p>\n
The CM-302 will be the most advanced military hardware China has ever\ntransferred to Iran, whilst also challenging the UN arms embargo that\nwas reinstituted last September. This sale is seen as likely to\ncomplicate US efforts to limit Iran\u2019s missile and nuclear programmes and\nsignals China\u2019s desire to assert its influence in a region long\ndominated by US military presence.<\/p>\n
China\u2019s Diplomatic Support for Iran<\/p>\n
China\u2019s diplomatic support for Iran was evident when President Xi\nJinping hosted Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Beijing last\nSeptember. During that meeting, Xi provided assurances of strong\npolitical backing.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, territorial\nintegrity, and national dignity,\u201d Xi Jinping told the Iranian\nleader.<\/p>\n
China\u2019s involvement in strengthening Iran\u2019s defence is viewed by some\nas part of broader geopolitical competition. Iran is now regarded as a\nmeeting point in the confrontation between major world powers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIran has become a battlefield between the US on one side and Russia\nand China on the other,\u201d said one official briefed on the missile\nnegotiations.<\/p>\n
The deployment of these missiles occurs as the US assembles a battle\nfleet within striking distance of Iran, including the aircraft carriers\nUSS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford, carrying thousands of\npersonnel and hundreds of aircraft. Citrinowicz added that China has\nstrategic interests in maintaining the stability of the current regime\nin Tehran.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina does not want to see a pro-Western regime in Iran. That would\nthreaten their interests. They hope this regime will endure,\u201d\nCitrinowicz added.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s efforts to update its weapons systems are also driven by its\ndepleting arsenal following last year\u2019s conflicts. Pieter Wezeman, a\nsenior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research\nInstitute, described the CM-302 purchase as a significant upgrade for\nIran.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis weapons system can be mounted on ships, aircraft, or mobile\nground vehicles, and is even capable of sinking aircraft carriers or\ndestroyers,\u201d according to information in the product marketing by the\nChina Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).<\/p>\n
Beyond anti-ship missiles, sources indicate Iran is also discussing\nthe acquisition of surface-to-air missile systems, anti-ballistic\nweapons, and anti-satellite weapons from China. Whilst China had reduced\nlarge-scale weapons transfers to Iran in the late 1990s due to\ninternational pressure, military relations between the two nations have\nnow intensified amid rising global tensions.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/iran-on-high-alert-for-war-against-us-bulk-purchases-chinese-supersonic-missiles-1772017979", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }