- The policy is administered through Iran’s Ministry of Defence Export Center.
- In addition to crypto, the platform also accepts Iranian rials and barter arrangements, though it does not disclose prices.
Iran has opened a new financial door for its defense exports, and it runs through the blockchain. Facing renewed international pressure, the country now allows foreign buyers to use cryptocurrency to pay for advanced weapons systems, a step that underscores how digital assets increasingly sit at the center of global sanctions evasion.
According to Coindesk, Iran’s Ministry of Defence Export Center, known as Mindex, now accepts cryptocurrency as a payment option for overseas arms sales. The export hub oversees Iran’s international defense deals and lists a wide range of equipment available to foreign customers.
According to information published on the center’s website, buyers can use crypto to purchase items such as missiles, tanks, and drones. The platform also accepts Iranian rials and barter arrangements.
The Financial Times described the move as one of the first known cases of a state formally accepting cryptocurrency for military equipment. The decision signals how governments under sanctions continue to adapt their payment channels as traditional banking routes close.
See Related: Iran Adopts Crypto For Foreign Trade To Bypass Sanctions
Sanctions Pressure Builds Again
Iran has faced layers of financial restrictions for years. These measures limit its access to international payment systems and foreign currency. Crypto offers a way to move value without relying on global banks.
International scrutiny of Iran intensified again in 2025. United Nations sanctions linked to Iran’s nuclear program returned after earlier relief measures from 2015 expired. The renewed restrictions added urgency to Tehran’s search for alternative settlement methods.
Crypto-based transactions already play a role in sanctioned economies. In early 2025, blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis reported that countries under U.S. sanctions received nearly $16 billion in digital assets in the previous year. The figure highlighted how digital currencies now function as a parallel financial system for restricted states.
