Financial Times: Two Ships Carrying Missile Fuel Material from China to Iran

The British newspaper 'Financial Times' reported, citing 'security sources from two Western countries', that two Iranian cargo ships carrying missile fuel raw materials will set sail from China to Iran in the coming days. According to the 'Financial Times', published on Wednesday, January 23, it is expected that the Iranian ships 'Golban' and 'Jiran' will carry a shipment of over 1,000 tons of 'sodium perchlorate', the main ingredient in the production of solid missile fuel 'ammonium perchlorate'. According to these two informed sources, this amount of 'sodium perchlorate' is capable of producing 960 tons of 'ammonium perchlorate' for use in the construction of 1,300 tons of missile fuel, which in turn can be used to launch 260 Iranian medium-range missiles. The report states that these shipments will be delivered to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to Western sources, the 'Golban' ship left the Chinese island of 'Daishan' on Tuesday, January 2, after loading 34 containers of 'sodium perchlorate'. The report also states that the 'Jiran' ship is expected to leave China for Iran after loading 22 containers of 'sodium perchlorate' in early next month. Western sources predict that these two ships belonging to the Islamic Republic will arrive at Bandar Abbas after three weeks. According to these informed sources, it is unclear whether the Chinese government is aware of these shipments. Meanwhile, the report notes that 'ammonium perchlorate' is among the controlled chemicals under the 'Missile Technology Control Regime', an international voluntary mechanism to combat the proliferation of missiles and missile technology. In 2023, the U.S. sanctioned several individuals and entities in China, Hong Kong, and the Islamic Republic of Iran for their involvement in supplying components and technology related to the advancement of the Islamic Republic's ballistic missiles. Last summer, Washington also imposed sanctions against five individuals and seven entities based in the Islamic Republic of Iran, China, and Hong Kong for facilitating the Iranian government's missile and drone programs. New U.S. sanctions against those involved in the Iranian government's missile and drone programs express U.S. concerns over the expansion of Iran's space and ballistic missile programs. The emphasis of Trump's defense nominee on deterrence and preventing war. Australia sanctioned several officials of the Islamic Republic's missile program.