diff --git a/sqlmesh/cli/main.py b/sqlmesh/cli/main.py
index 896b47abd7..6b30d570e6 100644
--- a/sqlmesh/cli/main.py
+++ b/sqlmesh/cli/main.py
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@
 LOCAL_ONLY_COMMANDS = ("format",)
 # Commands that are local-only when they're passed --local.
 OPTIONAL_LOCAL_COMMANDS = ("lint", "test")
+# Flags that, when passed to `plan`, make the command restatement-only and allow
+# running without local model definitions, since restatements operate against state.
+_RESTATE_ONLY_PLAN_FLAGS = ("--restate-model", "-r")
 
 
 class _SQLMeshGroup(click.Group):
@@ -151,6 +154,13 @@ def cli(
     if ctx.invoked_subcommand == "lint":
         load = False
 
+    # `plan --restate-model` works entirely against state, so missing local model
+    # files shouldn't block it (parity with `run`).
+    if ctx.invoked_subcommand == "plan" and any(
+        arg in _RESTATE_ONLY_PLAN_FLAGS for arg in ctx.meta["subcommand_args"]
+    ):
+        load = False
+
     configs = load_configs(config, Context.CONFIG_TYPE, paths, dotenv_path=dotenv)
     log_limit = list(configs.values())[0].log_limit
 
diff --git a/sqlmesh/core/context.py b/sqlmesh/core/context.py
index fd7f8ad071..9c742c2d4c 100644
--- a/sqlmesh/core/context.py
+++ b/sqlmesh/core/context.py
@@ -1771,7 +1771,17 @@ def plan_builder(
 
         expanded_restate_models = None
         if restate_models is not None:
-            expanded_restate_models = model_selector.expand_model_selections(restate_models)
+            # Restatements operate entirely against state, so the selector must be
+            # able to find models that exist only in the target environment (for
+            # example when local model files are absent).
+            env_models_for_restate = model_selector._load_env_models(
+                environment,
+                fallback_env_name=create_from or c.PROD,
+                ensure_finalized_snapshots=self.config.plan.use_finalized_state,
+            )
+            expanded_restate_models = model_selector.expand_model_selections(
+                restate_models, models={**env_models_for_restate, **self._models}
+            )
 
         if (restate_models is not None and not expanded_restate_models) or (
             backfill_models is not None and not backfill_models and not selected_deletion_fqns
diff --git a/tests/cli/test_cli.py b/tests/cli/test_cli.py
index 1602dc3b11..59954aa37d 100644
--- a/tests/cli/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/cli/test_cli.py
@@ -370,6 +370,43 @@ def test_plan_restate_model(runner, tmp_path):
     assert "Virtual layer updated" not in result.output
 
 
+def test_plan_restate_model_without_local_definitions(runner, tmp_path):
+    """`plan --restate-model` should work against state alone, like `run`.
+
+    Reproduces https://github.com/SQLMesh/sqlmesh/issues/3260.
+    """
+    create_example_project(tmp_path)
+    init_prod_and_backfill(runner, tmp_path)
+
+    # Wipe every local project directory, keeping only config.yaml + db.db.
+    for subdir in ("models", "seeds", "tests", "audits", "macros", ".cache"):
+        rmtree(tmp_path / subdir, ignore_errors=True)
+    assert not (tmp_path / "models").exists()
+
+    result = runner.invoke(
+        cli,
+        [
+            "--log-file-dir",
+            tmp_path,
+            "--paths",
+            tmp_path,
+            "plan",
+            "--restate-model",
+            "sqlmesh_example.full_model",
+            "--start",
+            "",
+            "--end",
+            "",
+            "--auto-apply",
+        ],
+    )
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    assert "doesn't seem to have any models" not in result.output
+    assert "Models selected for restatement" in result.output
+    assert "sqlmesh_example.full_model" in result.output
+    assert_model_batches_executed(result)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("flag", ["--skip-backfill", "--dry-run"])
 def test_plan_skip_backfill(runner, tmp_path, flag):
     create_example_project(tmp_path)