Reuters: Iran close to buying anti-ship cruise missiles from China

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Iran is nearing an agreement with China to purchase CM-302 anti-ship cruise missiles, amid a significant U.S. military deployment near Iran's coasts.

Citing six informed sources, the report stated that the deal for the Chinese-made supersonic missiles, with a range of about 290 kilometers, is close to finalization, though no delivery date has been set. The missiles are designed for low-altitude, high-speed flight to evade ship defense systems.

Arms experts cited in the report said deployment of these missiles would significantly enhance Iran's attack capabilities and threaten the U.S. Navy in the region.

Negotiations for the missile systems, which began at least two years ago, reportedly intensified following a 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June. The prospective deal signals expanding military ties between China and Iran as regional tensions rise and U.S. efforts to curb Iran's missile program and nuclear activities grow more complex.