An Arab official familiar with the intelligence reporting agency said that China’s surface-to-air missile battery delivery occurred after a de facto ceasefire between Iran and Israel on June 24.
Another Arab official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss delicate intelligence, said that the US Arab allies were aware of Tehran’s efforts to “back up and strengthen” its air defense, and that the White House had been informed of Iran’s progress.
Officials did not say how many surface-to-air missiles, or SAMS, that Iran has received from China since the end of the battle. However, one Arab authorities said Iran is paying SAM with oil freight.
China is Iran’s largest importer of oil, and in a report in May, the U.S. Energy Information Agency proposed that almost 90% of Iran’s crude and condensate exports flow to Beijing.
For several years, China has imported record volumes of Iranian oil, using countries such as Malaysia as transport hubs to hide the origins of crude oil, despite US sanctions.
“Iranians are engaged in creative ways of trading,” a Second Arab official told Me.
MNA/