Iran buys Russia's latest Verba man-portable air defence systems worth around €500 million – FT

Iran has concluded a secret agreement with Russia worth around €500 million to purchase thousands of the latest man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) as part of a large-scale programme to restore its air defence network, which was damaged during last year's war with Israel.

Source: Financial Times, citing leaked Russian documents and informed sources

Details: According to the documents, the agreement was signed in Moscow in December 2025. Russia has committed to supplying Tehran with 500 Verba portable launchers and 2,500 9M336 missiles.

The €495 million contract envisages deliveries in three stages from 2027 to 2029. According to one of the FT sources, a small number of systems may have been transferred earlier.

The cost of a single missile is €170,000, while a launcher costs €40,000. The deal also includes 500 Maugli-2 night-vision sights.

Quote: "The Verba is one of Russia's most modern air-defence systems, a shoulder-fired, infrared-guided missile capable of targeting cruise missiles, low-flying aircraft and drones. Operated by small mobile teams, it allows ground forces to quickly create dispersed defences without relying on fixed radar installations that are more vulnerable to strikes."

Details: The agreement was concluded between Rosoboronexport and the Moscow representative office of Iran's Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).

The negotiations were conducted by MODAFL representative Ruhollah Katebi. In 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on him for organising the sale of Fath-360 ballistic missiles to Russia, which the country uses in its war against Ukraine.

Iran's ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, indirectly confirmed this week that deliveries had intensified. According to the Financial Times, a Russian Il-76TD cargo aircraft has made at least three flights over the past eight days from Mineralnye Vody in Russia's Stavropol Krai to the Iranian city of Karaj, with another flight having taken place in late December.

In addition, it is reported that Iran received up to six Russian Mi-28 attack helicopters in January.

For reference: The 9K333 Verba system was adopted for service in 2014. It is designed to engage aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and drones at low altitudes, including in conditions involving decoy thermal countermeasures.

The system's main feature is a tri-spectral optical seeker (ultraviolet, near-infrared and mid-infrared ranges), which, according to the developers, improves accuracy and protection against flares. The engagement range is about 6 km, with a maximum engagement altitude of up to 4 km. The missile's speed can reach 500 metres per second. The warhead is a high-explosive fragmentation type with both contact and proximity fuses.

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