Iran is turning to cryptocurrency to facilitate international arms sales, according to a Financial Times report. The country’s Ministry of Defense Export Center (Mindex) now publicly accepts cryptocurrency—alongside barter arrangements—as payment for its military products, which range from ammunition to advanced ballistic missiles and drones.

This move marks the first public acknowledgment by a nation of its willingness to be paid in digital currencies for weaponry. The policy is seen as a direct effort to circumvent U.S. sanctions, which have hindered traditional payment methods for Iran’s military industry.

Mindex’s website confirms the arrangement, stating contracts can be settled with an “agreed upon” cryptocurrency. The site functions as a digital marketplace for military hardware. However, buyers must commit to specific terms regarding the use of the purchased equipment in conflicts.

The ministry emphasizes that its expertise in evading sanctions ensures products will be delivered “as soon as possible” after a contract is finalized.