Media: Strategic shipment from China signals Iran's return to full missile production PHOTO

A new shipment of chemicals crucial for Iran's missile program has arrived from China, signalling a potential ramp-up in Iran’s missile production capabilities.

According to a recent report by CNN, the vessel, carrying 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate, a key component in solid rocket propellants, docked at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, Caliber.Az reports.

This marks a key step in Iran's missile development after Israel's strikes on its missile factories in 2023.

The ship, Golbon, departed from the Chinese port of Taicang three weeks ago, carrying most of the shipment. Sodium perchlorate is vital for producing propellant for missiles like the Kheibar Shekan and Haj Qasem. Intelligence sources suggest this delivery could allow Iran to produce propellant for up to 260 Kheibar Shekan missiles or 200 Haj Qasem missiles.

This shipment comes as Iran has faced a series of setbacks in the region, including the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and Hezbollah's losses in Lebanon. Despite the October 2023 Israeli attack on Iranian missile facilities, this delivery suggests that Iran has resumed production of solid-propellant missiles sooner than expected.

The shipment was purchased by Iran's Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization (SSJO), which oversees the development of Iran’s missile program. The second ship, Jairan, which will carry the remainder of the sodium perchlorate, is still in China. Both vessels are operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), a company already under US and UK sanctions for its involvement in Iran's military activities.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the report, stating it was unaware of the specifics and reiterated its opposition to unilateral sanctions. Sodium perchlorate is not a controlled export by China, and its delivery to Iran is not considered a violation of international laws. However, Western analysts note that while sodium perchlorate itself is not restricted, it can be transformed into ammonium perchlorate, a material used in rocket propellants and subject to tighter controls.

China has long been a key supplier of sodium perchlorate to Iran. This is part of a broader pattern of military cooperation between the two nations, despite recent geopolitical shifts. Some analysts argue that while Iran’s domestic production of ammonium perchlorate has expanded, the delivery from China signals potential supply chain issues.

The new shipment is particularly important for Iran’s missile program, which includes missiles with ranges capable of reaching targets like Israel. Solid propellants are used in medium- and short-range missiles, with liquid propellants reserved for Iran's most powerful long-range missiles. This recent shipment could significantly enhance Iran's missile capabilities, particularly in the context of its growing ties with Russia.

Western sources indicate that while there are concerns about Iran funnelling chemicals into missile production, especially those destined for Russia, the immediate concern over the shipment itself is limited.

By Tamilla Hasanova