Deal for supersonic weapons comes as US warships gather in the region
The USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, arrives at Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea, on Feb 23, 2026. (Photo: Reuters)
Iran is close to a deal with China to purchase anti-ship cruise missiles, according to six people with knowledge of the negotiations, just as the United States deploys a vast naval force near the Iranian coast ahead of possible strikes on the Islamic Republic.
The deal for the Chinese-made CM-302 missiles is near completion, though no delivery date has been agreed, the people said. The supersonic missiles have a range of about 290 kilometres and are designed to evade shipborne defences by flying low and fast.
Their deployment would significantly enhance Iran’s strike capabilities and pose a threat to US naval forces in the region, two weapons experts said.
Negotiations with C
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