Secret Arms Deal Worth Nearly Rp 10 Trillion Between Russia and Iran
The Iranian government has secretly signed an arms agreement with Russia. The two nations struck a weapons deal worth up to €500 million (Rp 9.9 trillion).
The agreement reportedly involves the procurement of thousands of advanced Russian shoulder-fired missiles.
The secret arms deal between Tehran and Moscow was revealed by the Financial Times in a report published on Sunday (22 February), as cited by Reuters on Monday (23 February 2026).
The Financial Times report was based on leaked Russian documents and testimony from several sources with knowledge of the covert agreement.
Weapons Supply Over Three Years
The deal, signed in Moscow last December, requires Russia to supply 500 portable “Verba” launchers and 2,500 “9M336” missiles over a three-year period, according to the Financial Times report. Reuters was unable to independently verify the report.
Under the terms of the secret agreement, the Financial Times stated, weapons deliveries from Russia to Iran are scheduled in three phases, beginning in 2027 and running through to 2029.
The Financial Times reported that the deal was negotiated between Russia’s state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, and representatives of Iran’s Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).
Following Israeli Strikes
According to the contract seen by the Financial Times, Tehran formally requested the weapons system last July.
A month prior, in June last year, Israel launched a massive wave of strikes against Iran, with the United States joining in the bombing of Tehran’s key nuclear facilities.
US President Donald Trump said Iran’s main nuclear facilities were destroyed in the strikes. However, according to Washington’s intelligence assessment at the time, the US bombing did not destroy Iran’s nuclear capability and only set back its operations by several months.
Tehran officials have repeatedly asserted that Iran has recovered from the damage sustained during the conflict and that its capabilities are now stronger than before.
Russia maintains a strategic partnership agreement with Iran, although it does not include a mutual defence clause. Earlier this February, a Russian Navy corvette conducted manoeuvres with the Iranian Navy in the Gulf of Oman.