The escalating confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel has drawn renewed attention to the sources of Tehran’s military capabilities. After the latest wave of US-Israel strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, which also killed its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region, highlighting the scale of its arsenal.
While Iran -- apart from its nuclear programme -- has invested heavily in domestic weapons production over the past two decades, it continues to rely on a small group of international partners for key technologies, components and advanced systems. Countries such as Russia and China play a central role in this network, while North Korea and Belarus have historically contributed missile technology and military equipment.
Russia: Iran’s primary arms partner
Russia has been widely identified as Iran’s most significant military partner in recent years. According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI, Russia accounted for nearly all of Iran’s major arms imports during the 2020 to 2024 period.
Moscow has supplied Tehran with air defence systems, missile related technologies, sensors and aircraft. Analysts say the relationship has deepened further following the geopolitical realignment triggered by the Ukraine war and tensions with the West.
Recent deals reported after the regional conflicts of 2025 include advanced systems such as Verba man portable air defence missiles, which enhance Iran’s ability to counter aircraft and drones. Russian equipment has also supported Iran’s broader air defence architecture.
At the same time, the partnership has become increasingly reciprocal. Iran has supplied Russia with drones used in Ukraine, while Moscow has provided Iran with advanced military technologies.
China: missile components and dual-use technology
China is another important partner for Iran’s defence sector. While Beijing is less visible as a direct arms supplier, it has played a significant role in providing missile-related materials, electronics and dual-use technologies that can support weapons development.
Reports indicate that China has supplied components used in ballistic missile programmes and has been involved in discussions over potential sales of advanced anti-ship missiles such as the CM 302.
Chinese firms have also been linked to the supply of parts used in drone production. In some cases these transfers occur through complex procurement networks involving intermediaries and front companies.
North Korea: the origin of Iran’s early missile programme
North Korea played a crucial role in the early development of Iran’s missile capabilities during the late twentieth century.
According to historical records, Pyongyang provided the foundational technology and missiles for Iran’s Shahab 1 ballistic missile programme.
"North Korea provided the foundational technology and missiles for Iran's Shahab-1. The Shahab-1 is a variant of the Soviet Scud-B, with Iran acquiring Scud-B missiles from North Korea starting in 1987 (120 units), followed by additional batches and production assistance through the early 1990s."
This cooperation helped Iran establish its initial ballistic missile infrastructure, which it later expanded into a much broader domestic programme.
Concerns persist that technology transfers between the two countries may still occur, although some analysts say the flow of equipment has become less direct in recent years due to sanctions and shifting geopolitical priorities.
Belarus: a smaller but notable supplier
Belarus has also been linked to Iran’s defence procurement networks, though on a much smaller scale.
Reports indicate that Minsk supplied certain arms and military equipment through 2024 and has been approached by Tehran for additional air defence systems as Russia faces its own supply constraints.
Belarus’s role reflects Iran’s broader strategy of seeking support from countries that maintain close relations with Moscow and operate outside Western defence frameworks.
Iran’s homegrown missile programmes
Despite its reliance on external technology in the past, Iran now produces many of its missiles domestically.
One prominent example is the Fateh 110, a short-range ballistic missile that has become a core element of Iran’s missile arsenal.
"Iran domestically developed the Fateh-110 short-range ballistic missile through its Aerospace Industries Organization, evolving it from the unguided Zelzal-2 rocket by adding guidance systems. No foreign suppliers are credited; Iran produces it indigenously and has exported or licensed it to allies like Syria (as M-600)."
Another domestically produced weapon is the Raad 500 tactical ballistic missile, which represents an advanced evolution of the Fateh series.
"The Raad-500 is an Iranian-designed tactical ballistic missile, produced domestically as an advanced derivative of the Fateh-110 with composite materials, Zohair solid-fuel engine, and thrust vector control for a 500 km range. It entered service around 2020 with no reported foreign providers."
These programmes illustrate Iran’s long term strategy of reducing dependence on foreign suppliers while maintaining access to critical technologies when needed.
Drone production largely indigenous
Iran has also emerged as one of the world’s leading producers of loitering munition drones.
Most of these systems are manufactured domestically by state-owned entities such as the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company, known as HESA.
"Iran primarily produces its own kamikaze (loitering munition) drones domestically, such as the Shahed-136 series, through state-owned entities like HESA."
The Shahed 136, widely used in recent conflicts, is among the best known of these systems. Russia has licensed production of the drone under the name Geran 2, highlighting the growing export reach of Iran’s drone technology.
However, Iran still relies on foreign suppliers for certain components.
"China has recently supplied offensive kamikaze drones directly to Iran amid escalating tensions."
In addition, investigators have linked some drone components to foreign suppliers operating through intermediary networks.
"Ukrainian firms (e.g., GK Imperativ, Ekofera) provided critical parts like engines and sensors to HESA until US sanctions in 2025, acting as procurement fronts."
A hybrid defence model
Iran’s military capability reflects a hybrid model combining domestic manufacturing with selective foreign partnerships.
Tehran has developed its own missiles, drones and tactical weapons while relying on external partners for advanced technologies, sensors, materials and specialised components.
As tensions with the United States and Israel continue to escalate, this network of allies and domestic industries will remain central to Iran’s ability to sustain and expand its military capabilities.
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