Iran agreed a secret 500 million euro ($589 million) arms deal with Russia to acquire thousands of advanced shoulder-fired missiles, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. Under the deal the deliveries are scheduled in three tranches, running from 2027 through 2029, the FT said. In June last year, U.S. forces struck Iran's three main nuclear sites as the country joined Israel's military campaign against Iran. However, according to a preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment at the time, the U.S. airstrikes did not destroy Iran's nuclear capability and only set it back by a few months. Russia has a strategic partnership treaty with Iran, although it does not include a mutual defence clause.

Source: The Telegraph February 23, 2026 03:06 UTC