Iran’s efforts to rebuild its ballistic missile program using materials imported from China have drawn concern from US lawmakers, who urged stronger action to stop Tehran from restoring its military capacity, Jewish Insider said on Friday.
The reaction followed a CNN report that European intelligence had tracked shipments of sodium perchlorate, a key missile fuel ingredient, from China to Iran since late September. The material can be used in solid propellants for mid-range missiles.
Senator Rick Scott of Florida told the Jewish Insider he was not surprised by the findings. “We all have to understand that Russia, Iran, China, North Korea – they’re all working together to demolish our way of life,” he said, adding that US and Israeli forces may eventually need to act militarily to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska said China’s conduct showed its intent to replace the United States by funding adversaries such as Iran and Russia. “We should respond very harshly to both Iran and Communist China,” he said.
Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma said China’s role in rearming Iran “would be a serious problem” and urged that the issue be raised directly with Beijing. “If China wants to be a world leader, they need to encourage good behavior for other countries as well,” he said.
Representative Mike Lawler of New York called on the administration to “act immediately to enforce existing sanctions and impose new ones,” while Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Iran’s “nuclear know-how” had survived earlier US strikes.
Jewish Insider said lawmakers agreed the US must ensure China faces consequences if it continues supplying Iran with missile materials.
