Iran and China are nearing an agreement for Beijing to supply Tehran with anti-ship cruise missiles, according to a report by Reuters. The potential deal would mark a significant step in military cooperation between the two countries.

If finalized, the deployment of the missiles would substantially enhance Iran's offensive naval capabilities and increase the threat to United States naval forces operating in the region. The report states that negotiations intensified following last summer's 12-day war between Israel and Iran, suggesting the conflict accelerated defense discussions between Tehran and Beijing.