Oil for weapons. China has made a secret pact with Iran

China has concluded a secret oil-for-arms pact with Iran and, as part of it, has already delivered advanced HQ-9 missiles to sanctioned Tehran, changing the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region and the Middle East, according to an analysis by the Dryad Global Maritime Security platform dealing with maritime intelligence.

According to the report Iranian oil exports, estimated at 1.5–2 million barrels per day, bring Iran approximately USD 53–54 billion annually. Over 80-90 percent of this volume goes to China through a complex supply chainusing dozens of old tankers from the so-called shadow fleets, often pumping oil between them, which is assumed by Chinese refineries, for example, as Malaysian.

China instead are sending advanced military equipment to Iran, including the HQ-9 long-range air defense system, missile guidance technologies, drone components and solid propellants.

Some of the weapons supplied by China, including the guidance systems used in Iran's Shahed-136 drones and anti-ship ballistic missiles, Iran hands over Yemen's backed Houthis, who have carried out over 130 attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since 2024according to data from the United States Naval Command (NAVCENT).

However, the most important Chinese acquisition for Tehran seems to be the HQ-9BE. This system can not only shoot down planes from a distance of 250 km, but also hit all kinds of missiles, which makes it a powerful support for air defense, which completely failed during the 12-day war with Israel in June 2025.

The HQ-9B system is quickly gaining orders abroad and is considered one of the most effective long-range air defense elements in the world. According to MilitaryWatchMagazine, in addition to Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and probably Morocco have it, and recently it also reached Azerbaijan, despite its close ties with Western countries, Israel and Turkey. (PAP)

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