Two Democratic members of the United States Congress urged the Secretary of State and CIA Director to investigate a large shipment of missile propellant precursor material from China to Iran.
Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Joe Courtney sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe on Wednesday, calling for a probe into Chinese firms' delivery of 2,000 tons of sodium perchlorate - a critical ingredient in making ballistic missile propellant - to Iran since late September in violation of UN sanctions.
The chemical shipped via 10 to 12 vessels to Bandar Abbas port, could fuel up to 500 mid-range missiles, accelerating Tehran's arsenal rebuild after a 12-day war with Israel in June, the congressmen said based on report previously appeared on CNN.
The letter said the shipments contravene September's reinstated UN sanctions prohibiting support for Iran's ballistic missile program and nuclear delivery systems.
“Beijing's aid enables Tehran's post-war rearmament efforts despite US efforts to deter such transfers,” the lawmakers said. “April Treasury sanctions on Iranian and Chinese entities failed to halt the flow, as shipments continued unabated with another 1,000 tons delivered in June.”
Iran has rejected reported US demands that it curb the range of its missiles to achieve any peace deal, calling the requests a non-starter which curbs its defense.
Sanction enforcement
In April the US Treasury sanctioned several Iranian and Chinese entities for facilitating transfers of sodium perchlorate and similar chemical precursors to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) for ballistic missile production.
"Beijing’s continued transfers to Tehran represent a direct threat to regional stability and enable authoritarian aggression," the lawmakers said, asking for details on US countermeasures and coordination with allies.
The letter said the shipments were tracked through cargo manifests, crew social media, and shipping data. Several vessels, including the sanctioned MV Basht, disabled Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking to disguise their movements.
The transfers involved previously sanctioned Chinese entities like Shenzhen Amor Logistics and Yanling Chuanxing Chemical Plant, targeted in April Treasury sanctions.
Unofficial accounts pointed to sodium perchlorate and other compounds imported from China for Iran’s missile program as the cause of an April 26 blast at the Bandar Abbas port which killed 57 people. Authorities have denied any military link.
The United States on Tuesday announced sweeping sanctions on 32 individuals and companies across eight countries it accused of helping Iran rebuild its ballistic missile and drone programs.
