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Iran has begun allowing foreign buyers to pay for advanced weapons using cryptocurrency, barter arrangements, or Iranian rials, according to officials from its Ministry of Defence Export Center. The agency, known as Mindex, confirmed that digital assets now form part of its official payment options for overseas arms sales.
The move follows years of financial pressure from international sanctions that have restricted Iran’s access to global banking networks. By expanding settlement methods, Iran aims to keep military exports moving despite isolation from conventional financial systems.
Mindex has formally updated its contract terms to include cryptocurrency as a settlement method alongside barter deals and payments in Iranian currency. The changes give overseas buyers multiple ways to complete transactions without relying on international banks. Iran faces extensive sanctions from the United States, the European Union, and others linked to its nuclear program and regional activities.
As a result, Iran has struggled to process payments through traditional channels for years.
Digital currencies offer peer-to-peer transfers that avoid regulated banking systems. According to the Financial Times, this is among the first known cases of a state accepting cryptocurrency for military equipment.
The use of digital assets in sanctioned trade already exists beyond Iran’s arms sector.
In early 2025, blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis reported that sanctioned countries received nearly $16 billion in digital assets during the previous year. These flows show how digital currencies support transactions outside regulated financial networks.
Mindex’s website lists a full catalogue of Iranian military equipment available for export.
The offerings include Emad ballistic missiles, Shahed drones, air defense systems, cruise missiles, rockets, warships, and small arms. The agency states that buyers can use crypto, barter, or local currency for any listed item.
The site also addresses concerns about sanctions and delivery risks. Mindex says sanctions will not disrupt deliveries and claims it bypasses restrictions as part of its standard policy. It assures buyers that contracts will proceed and weapons will arrive without delays.
The platform operates fully online and supports multiple languages. A chatbot guides buyers through the purchasing process and payment options. Archived records, registration data, and technical checks confirm the site’s long-term operation and accessibility.
The Mindex platform runs on an Iranian cloud service already under US Treasury sanctions. US officials have linked the hosting provider to Iran’s intelligence network. Despite this, the site remains accessible and functional for foreign users.
Sanctions against Iran intensified again in 2025. The United Nations reimposed measures lifted in 2015 under the nuclear agreement. Western governments warn that using traditional banks for Iran-related trade risks exclusion from the US, EU, and UK financial systems.
US authorities have accused Iran of using digital assets to support oil sales and move funds outside regulated channels. In September, officials sanctioned individuals tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards for running a crypto-based shadow banking network. These cases show how digital currencies support sanctioned economic activity.
Iran ranked 18th globally in arms exports in 2024, according to SIPRI. Analysts track whether crypto payments could expand Iran’s role as other exporters face limits. As cryptocurrency enters state-level defense trade, can sanctions still restrict military commerce effectively?
Also Read: Israel Seizes $1.5 Million in Crypto Wallets Linked to Iran’s IRGC
Iran has formalized cryptocurrency, barter, and local currency payments for overseas weapons sales through Mindex. The shift reflects long-standing sanctions pressure and limited banking access. As digital assets enter state-level defense trade, regulators and security analysts now face growing challenges in tracking and enforcing sanctions.
