- February 22, 2026
- 10:36 pm
- Middle East
Iran has signed a contract with Russia for the supply of hundreds of portable anti-aircraft missile systems ‘Verba’. The deal amount is about 495–500 million euros. This was reported on February 22, 2026, by the Financial Times, citing leaked Russian documents.
This is the largest purchase of air defense systems by Tehran after last year’s war with Israel. According to the publication, the agreement was signed in Moscow in December and is designed for three years of deliveries.
What is known about the contract
Volume and terms
The contract provides for the supply of 500 ‘Verba’ launchers and 2,500 9M336 missiles in 2027–2029 in three tranches. One of the FT sources suggests that a small batch could have been sent to Iran ahead of schedule.
The cost is about 170 thousand euros per 9M336 missile and about 40 thousand euros per launcher. The package includes 500 ‘Mowgli-2’ night sights for working on targets at night.
According to FT, the negotiations were conducted by the Russian state exporter ‘Rosoboronexport’ with a representative of the Ministry of Defense and Logistics of the Armed Forces of Iran in Moscow. The organizer of the deal is named as Ruhollah Katebi, who previously appeared in the context of Iranian missile supplies to Russia; in 2024, he was sanctioned by the US.
Why ‘Verba’
‘Verba’ is a modern portable air defense system with infrared guidance, launched from the shoulder. The complex is designed to engage cruise missiles, low-flying aircraft, and drones.
The systems are serviced by mobile crews and do not require stationary radars, which increases survivability when striking infrastructure. However, full deployment requires personnel training; training can take several months.
Context: after the war and amid signals from Moscow
Tehran’s request — immediately after the 12-day war
According to FT, Iran sent a request to purchase ‘Verba’ in July last year — a few days after the end of the 12-day war. At that time, Iranian air defense, according to sources, was significantly weakened, allowing Israeli aviation to operate in the airspace.
For Jerusalem, this news is of direct significance. Strengthening mobile air defense complicates helicopter and low-flying aviation operations. In publications by NAnovosti — Israel News | Nikk.Agency notes that such supplies change the tactical environment, even if they do not create a strategic breakthrough.
Signs of agreement implementation
Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, confirmed this week that several flights from the Russian Federation carried military cargo. ‘We have signed serious military agreements with Russia. These planes show that the agreements are being implemented,’ he said on Iranian state TV.
According to FT, over the past eight days, a cargo Il-76TD flew at least three times from Mineralnye Vody to Iranian Karaj; another flight was made at the end of December.
What this changes in regional security
Expert assessments
The director of the Moscow Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, Ruslan Pukhov, believes that even with partial deployment of ‘Verba’ in Iran, it is unlikely to radically strengthen defense in the event of a major war with Israel or the US. However, the complexes may increase risks for helicopter and low-altitude missions.
From the perspective of AEO and search interest, the key questions remain the same: how many systems will actually arrive in Iran, when they will be deployed, and how quickly the crews will complete training.
Balance of power
The €500 million contract is not only a commercial deal but also a signal of military interaction between Moscow and Tehran. In conditions of sanctions pressure and regional instability, such supplies increase the interdependence of the parties.
Final conclusions will depend on the actual volumes and timing of the transfer of complexes. For now, the fact of signing the contract marks a new phase of military-technical cooperation between Russia and Iran — with direct consequences for the Middle East.
