Concerns of Two American Legislators Over China's Support for Iran's Missile Capabilities

Two Republican lawmakers in the United States sent a letter to Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, requesting more information about China's support for the missile capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, calling this support "concerning." They also urged the Secretary of Defense to consider the need for establishing a third missile defense site at the Fort Detrick military base in eastern America given the current circumstances. Elise Stefanik from New York and Doug Lamborn from Colorado, members of the U.S. House of Representatives, described the illegal transfer of technology between China and Iran aimed at enhancing the missile and nuclear capabilities of the Islamic Republic as a "worrisome partnership of two enemy authoritarian regimes." This letter was sent to Lloyd Austin at a time when the U.S. Justice Department recently charged a Chinese national with preparing isostatic graphics for Iran, which are used in the construction of missile parts and intercontinental ballistic missiles. The two American lawmakers condemned this technology transfer and sought information on the impact of the partnership between the two countries on increasing Iran's missile capabilities. The testing of the new ballistic missile "Khabir" or "Khorramshahr 4" by the Islamic Republic raised further concerns. Elise Stefanik and Doug Lamborn also requested that the Secretary of Defense conduct necessary assessments on how to equip the U.S. missile defense system to deter and counter Iran's intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities, and the need to construct a third missile defense site at Fort Detrick. In their letter, they wrote: "Iran, with China's technical assistance, continues to maintain the largest missile force in the Middle East while simultaneously enhancing its dual space launch and intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities." They added: "If this partnership is not controlled, Iran's nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities will become active, increasing its ability to threaten U.S. security." Elise Stefanik specifically expressed concern about the U.S. defense system's capability to counter advanced Iranian intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities. In their letter to Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, the lawmakers requested clarifications regarding "a clear delineation of all Chinese technical assistance to Tehran, the U.S. Department of Defense's assessment of Iran's intercontinental ballistic missile program, and an analysis of the U.S. defense system's capability to counter the increasing missile capabilities of the Islamic Republic." Elise Stefanik and Doug Lamborn joined other members of the House Armed Services Committee in this request, which includes Whitman, Gallagher, Banks, Wilson, Moilan, McCormick, and Strang. The missile and drone activities of the Islamic Republic over the past years have been among the most serious concerns for Western countries regarding the Islamic Republic, leading to several sanction packages against it. Recently, with ongoing concerns about Iran's military programs, a number of American lawmakers proposed a bipartisan bill to sanction a wide range of the Islamic Republic's missile and drone activities. The United States has so far imposed multiple sanctions on those involved in and supporting the Islamic Republic's military program, especially the ballistic missile program.