An Iran China missile deal for Chinese-made supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles is close to completion, according to a Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, report that cited six people with knowledge of the negotiations. The reported agreement would give Iran access to the CM-302, a sea-skimming anti-ship weapon with a range of about 290 kilometers (roughly 180 miles), as the U.S. Navy positions two carrier strike groups within reach of the Islamic Republic.
The negotiations, first launched at least two years ago, accelerated after the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June 2025, Reuters reported. The same reporting said Iranian officials traveled to China during the process, including Iran’s deputy defense minister, Massoud Oraei, a trip not previously reported publicly.
China’s foreign ministry told Reuters it was not aware of any talks about a potential missile sale. The White House did not directly address the reported negotiations when asked by Reuters, and Beijing’s defense ministry did not respond to questions.
What is known about the Iran China missile deal
The core of the Iran China missile deal is the CM-302, a Chinese anti-ship cruise missile marketed for export. In the Tuesday report by Reuters, the missile was described as supersonic with a range of about 290 kilometers and designed to evade shipboard defenses by flying low and fast.
Reuters reported the deal is near completion but said no delivery date has been agreed. It also said it could not determine how many missiles are involved, how much Iran has agreed to pay, or whether China will ultimately proceed given heightened regional tensions.
A foreign ministry official in Iran told Reuters the country has military and security agreements with allies and that now is an appropriate time to use them. China’s foreign ministry, in its response to Reuters, said it was not aware of the reported missile negotiations.
The report also said Iran is in discussions to acquire other Chinese systems, including surface-to-air missiles, man-portable air defense systems, anti-ballistic weapons and anti-satellite weapons. Those talks were described as separate discussions reported by people familiar with the negotiations.
Why CM-302 missiles matter in the Persian Gulf
Iran’s naval strategy has long relied on geography, especially the Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding waters, where commercial shipping and military movements compress into a narrow operating space. A supersonic, sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missile is designed for precisely that kind of environment, where a short warning window can complicate defensive decisions.
Two weapons experts told Reuters the CM-302 would significantly enhance Iran’s strike capability and pose a threat to U.S. naval forces operating in the region. Reuters also quoted Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence officer and a senior Iran researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, saying, “It’s a complete gamechanger if Iran has supersonic capability to attack ships in the area,” and adding that the missiles are difficult to intercept.
CASIC, the Chinese state-owned defense conglomerate that markets the CM-302, describes it in promotional material as a top-tier anti-ship weapon that can be deployed from ships, aircraft and ground vehicles. Reuters reported CASIC markets the CM-302 as capable of sinking major warships and as a system that can also strike land targets, though CASIC did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Even without new missiles, Iran has repeatedly signaled it sees U.S. naval presence as a pressure point. In a Feb. 1, 2026, dispatch, Reuters quoted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saying Iran would not be scared by U.S. ships and warned that Iran would strike back if attacked.
