Iran orders thousands of tons of ballistic-missile material from China – WSJ

Iran has ordered thousands of tons of ammonium perchlorate, a key ingredient for ballistic missile fuel, from China in a move to expand its missile arsenal while nuclear negotiations with the United States continue, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The shipments, expected to arrive in the coming months, could be used to produce hundreds of missiles, with some material likely to be transferred to Iranian-aligned groups such as the Houthis in Yemen, the report said.

The order was placed by an Iranian company through a Hong Kong-based firm. US officials estimate the material could support the production of up to 800 missiles. Iran has one of the region’s largest ballistic missile programs and has rejected any limits on its missile capabilities as part of nuclear talks.

The US has recently sanctioned multiple individuals and entities in Iran and China linked to missile propellant procurement. A State Department official told the Journal that Chinese support for Iran’s missile program and its regional allies remains a concern.

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