Iran Confirms Cryptocurrency Payments Are Accepted for Overseas Weapons Sales Through Mindex Platform

• Iran now allows crypto payments for state weapons exports through official channels despite heavy international sanctions pressure.

• The Mindex platform shows how Iran keeps defense trade active using digital systems under financial restrictions.

• Crypto settlement options reflect wider efforts by sanctioned states to bypass banking limits and maintain exports.

Iran has confirmed it can accept digital currency for overseas weapons sales through official state export channels. The policy appears on a government platform managing defense exports and contract settlements. It adds cryptocurrency alongside barter arrangements and payments in Iranian rials. The move signals a structural change in how state trade can proceed under sanctions.

Iran is reportedly considering accepting cryptocurrency for advanced weapons sales alongside barter and rial payments to bypass international sanctions.https://t.co/X5UcsaO2CL

— Rich by Coin (@Richbycoin_com) January 2, 2026

The development emerged through documentation linked to the Ministry of Defence Export Center, known as Mindex. The platform outlines payment options and delivery procedures for foreign buyers. It also lists compliance rules tied to weapons use and export controls. As a result, Iran has formalized crypto settlement within its defense trade framework.

State Export Platform Expands Payment Options

Mindex operates as a government agency regulating overseas arms sales to foreign states. It maintains active commercial ties with 35 countries across several regions. The catalog includes ballistic missiles, drones, warships, rockets, and short range air defense systems. Meanwhile, the platform indicates flexibility in contract structures based on buyer location.

Financial records reviewed by international media confirmed the platform’s authenticity and technical setup. Analysts traced the site to an Iranian domestic cloud service. That provider remains under United States sanctions and intelligence scrutiny. However, the platform continues to operate and present transaction options openly.

Digital Infrastructure and Compliance Messaging

The export center also runs an online chatbot guiding buyers through procurement steps. It outlines delivery routes, compliance terms, and settlement choices. Additionally, it explains how contracts proceed under international financial restrictions. The system emphasizes operational continuity despite external banking barriers.

A dedicated section addresses sanctions exposure and execution risks. It notes that established state practices enable contract completion. Furthermore, it signals that shipments may continue during heightened enforcement periods. Prices remain undisclosed, and payments adjust to buyer jurisdictions.

Weapons Access and Inspection Procedures

Mindex states that buyers may visit Iran to inspect equipment under security approval. The platform frames inspections as part of routine procurement steps. Meanwhile, export contracts include operational limitations on weapon use. Those conditions may vary through negotiations with contracting parties.

Exported items cover a wide range of conventional and advanced systems. These include missiles, naval vessels, and unmanned platforms. Consequently, the payment shift affects multiple defense categories. The change also reflects broader digitalization in restricted trade environments.

Sanctions Pressure and International Scrutiny

Western officials have tracked similar practices among sanctioned governments. They link digital currencies to efforts bypassing traditional banking networks. The United States has targeted Russian and Iranian actors for related activities. Additionally, authorities accused Iran of using digital assets in oil export settlements. Iran recently increased its push for crypto trade as new sanctions limit its access to global financial systems.

Recent enforcement actions cited shadow networks moving large sums through alternative finance. In September, the United States Treasury sanctioned individuals tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Moreover, Iran collaborated with Russia to produce a token of the Persian Gulf region that would be used as a mode of payment in international trade back in 2023. Officials linked them to crypto-based shadow banking operations. Therefore, Iran’s defense export policy aligns with patterns already under investigation.