New intelligence reports reveal that China has shipped key missile fuel materials to Iran, potentially enabling the production of hundreds of additional ballistic missiles, even as Israel and the US work to block Tehran’s rearmament.
According to the reports, several Iranian-flagged ships transported sodium perchlorate—a critical component in solid rocket fuel—from Chinese chemical ports to Iran after the war began.
Experts estimate the shipments could support the production of approximately 785 ballistic missiles, helping Iran recover from heavy losses inflicted on its missile infrastructure by US and Israeli strikes. The material is converted into ammonium perchlorate and combined with aluminum powder and binders to create solid fuel used in advanced missiles.
The shipments highlight growing cooperation between China and Iran, despite international pressure. The vessels reportedly attempted to conceal their routes by disabling tracking systems and falsifying destinations. In response, the US has imposed sanctions on networks involved in procuring missile fuel components and is increasing efforts to expose and disrupt smuggling routes.