Iran Offers Advanced Weapons Sales Paid in Crypto

Iran now offers to sell advanced weapons systems to foreign governments in exchange for cryptos. These include ballistic missiles, armed drones, and warships. Iran aims to bypass Western financial controls and maintain its military exports despite sanctions.

An assumed offer to bypass sanctions

Iran officially accepts cryptocurrency payments for its arms sales. This proposal comes from the export center of the Iranian Ministry of Defense, known as Mindex. This is not a leak or a rumor. Indeed, the payment option is displayed in promotional documents intended for foreign buyers.

Iran has faced a regime of severe sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies for years. Traditional banking channels are locked, and it is nearly impossible to make payments in dollars. Cryptos thus offer a functional, if imperfect, way out.

This choice is not ideological but pragmatic. Cryptos allow fast, cross-border transfers without relying on traditional financial infrastructures. For a pressured state, it is a tool for economic survival. And now, a diplomatic lever.

The systems offered are not marginal. Catalogs mention combat drones like the Shahed type, already used in several recent conflicts. Short- and medium-range ballistic missiles are also part of the offer. Naval vessels, including corvettes and armed patrol boats, complete the list.

These equipments mostly interest countries already isolated from the international financial system. States under sanctions, or wishing to avoid Western circuits. Iran does not target its direct adversaries. It addresses an already existing parallel market.

Crypto as a geopolitical tool

The use of cryptos by states is no longer marginal. Iran has been exploring it for several years, notably for its imports. The novelty lies in the assumed and public nature of this military offer. It is no longer about discreet operations. However, the message is sent openly.

This development worries Western authorities. Indeed, the U.S. Treasury has already sanctioned networks using cryptos to bypass embargoes. The blockchain leaves traces. But their exploitation remains complex, especially when transactions pass through intermediaries outside Western jurisdiction.

For Iran, the risk already exists and sanctions are in place. As such, the room for maneuver is limited. In this context, using cryptos does not fundamentally worsen the situation. Instead, it allows maintaining an essential strategic activity.

The fact that a state offers missiles against cryptos changes the overall perception of the sector. Cryptocurrency is no longer just an alternative financial tool. It is already used as an alternative for wealth transfer. It also becomes a sovereignty instrument for powers under constraints.