Iran Explores Cryptocurrency for International Arms Sales: Report

Iran is reportedly seeking to conduct international arms transactions using cryptocurrency, aiming to establish new payment methods that can bypass Western financial restrictions.

Key Takeaways

Iran is exploring cryptocurrency for international arms sales to bypass Western financial controls.
Mindex, Iran’s arms export center, offers military equipment to foreign governments and accepts digital currencies.
The arms catalog includes advanced weaponry, with terms that can be negotiated by buyers.
Cryptocurrency is increasingly utilized by sanctioned entities to facilitate trade.
Iran's arms marketing coincides with changes in the global arms market, particularly following Russia's decrease in exports.

Iran

The Financial Times has indicated that the Iranian Ministry of Defence Export Center, commonly known as Mindex, is offering military equipment sales that allow payments in digital currencies. This approach also includes barter options and transactions in Iranian rials.

This development, which surfaced over the past year, seems to be among the first instances of a nation officially indicating its willingness to accept cryptocurrency for significant military exports.

Mindex Promotes Arms Linked to Iran-Supported Sectors

According to Mindex, it has established customer relations with 35 countries and provides a catalog showcasing items such as Emad ballistic missiles, Shahed drones, Shahid Soleimani-class warships, and short-range air defense systems.

The center’s multilingual website also lists various small arms, rockets, and anti-ship cruise missiles, some of which have been connected to Iranian-backed militant groups within the Middle East, as reported by the Financial Times.

On its website, Mindex specifies that buyers must agree to certain conditions related to how the weapons are to be used “during a war with another country,” although these terms are “negotiable” between the involved parties.

Mindex also operates an online portal and a virtual chatbot to help potential customers navigate the purchasing process and to address questions regarding sanctions in a FAQ section.

Crypto Trade Offers Solutions for Sanctioned Entities

While the site does not provide specific prices, it allows buyers to arrange payments within the destination country and offers the option for in-person inspections of goods in Iran, pending approval from security authorities, according to the newspaper.

This marketing strategy arrives at a time when cryptocurrency has emerged as a viable means for sanctioned entities to maintain trade, particularly as U.S. and European officials intensify efforts to curb networks that exploit alternative channels to avoid the formal banking system.

In September 2025, the U.S. Treasury introduced sanctions aimed at a financial network it alleged supported Iran’s military, associating it with shadow banking structures that may involve crypto-linked operations and foreign front companies.

Changes in Global Arms Market Create Opportunities for Iran

For potential partners, risks remain considerable; using traditional finance to engage with Iran may expose individuals to restrictions under U.S. and allied sanction programs, potentially limiting access to Western banking and trade services.

Iran’s arms sales initiatives coincide with transformations in the global weapons trade due to the fallout from the conflict in Ukraine. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported a 64% decline in Russia’s arms exports between the periods of 2015 to 2019 and 2020 to 2024. Furthermore, the Financial Times noted that Iran ranked 18th globally in major arms exports for 2024, highlighting that Russia's reduced capacity has created opportunities for alternate suppliers.

The Atlantic Council suggested in 2024 that Iran could become a leading arms exporter, advocating for Washington to develop a strategy to address this potential shift.