TEHRAN/MOSCOW (HRNW): Iran has reportedly entered into a secret arms agreement with Russia valued at approximately €500 million (Rs. 164 billion) to acquire the advanced Verba Man-Portable Air-Defense System (MANPADS). The deal, signed in Moscow in December 2025, aims to restore Iran’s integrated air defense network, which suffered significant damage during a 12-day conflict with Israel in June 2025.
Contract and Delivery Details
The agreement outlines a comprehensive supply of advanced weaponry to be delivered between 2027 and 2029:
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Missiles: 2,500 units of the 9M336 surface-to-air missiles, priced at approximately €170,000 per unit.
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Launchers: 500 Verba portable launch units, valued at €40,000 per unit.
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Night Vision: 500 Maugli-2 night-vision devices for tracking low-flying targets in darkness.
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Timeline: While the primary tranches are scheduled over three years, reports suggest that a limited number of units may have already been transferred from Russian warehouses to Tehran.
Strategic Context
The acquisition follows the “12-Day War” in mid-2025 (Operation Rising Lion), during which Israeli and U.S. airstrikes reportedly targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and military infrastructure. The conflict revealed vulnerabilities in Iran’s air defenses, allowing the Israeli Air Force to establish significant air superiority. Tehran formally requested the Verba system in July 2025 to safeguard its strategic assets and counter future threats from drones, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft.
The Russian-made Verba system is highly regarded for its tri-spectral optical seeker, which provides enhanced protection against decoy flares and thermal countermeasures, making it a critical asset for modern mobile infantry units.
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