Iran Seeks Crypto Payments for Arms Exports Amid Sanctions Evasion Efforts
Iran's Ministry of Defence Export Center (Mindex) is offering ballistic missiles, drones, and warships to foreign buyers via cryptocurrency payments, according to a Financial Times report. The move marks one of the first instances of a nation-state openly proposing crypto as payment for military hardware.
The catalogue includes Emad missiles and Shahid Soleimani-class warships—systems previously linked to Iran-backed militant groups. Mindex claims relationships with 35 countries and permits barter deals or rial payments alongside digital currencies.
Terms require buyers to agree on wartime usage conditions, though these remain negotiable. The center operates a digital storefront with a chatbot interface, signaling Tehran's push to circumvent Western financial controls through alternative settlement methods.
