China-Iran Missile Connection: Western Actions Looming?
Recent media reports suggest that China may be playing a crucial role in supporting Iran’s ballistic missile program by supplying key chemical components used in missile production. According to the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal, two Iranian-flagged vessels, the Golbon and the Jairan, are believed to be transporting over 1,000 tonnes of sodium perchlorate from China to Iran. This compound is a precursor for ammonium perchlorate, the main ingredient in solid fuel propellant for ballistic missiles—sufficient to produce fuel for approximately 260 medium-range ballistic missiles.
The Golbon reportedly departed from China’s Daishan Island on January 21, carrying thirty-four 20-foot containers filled with sodium perchlorate. The Jairan is expected to sail in early February with a cargo of 22 containers. Western security sources indicate no intermediate port calls are planned before reaching Iran’s Bandar Abbas.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has emphasized the development of solid-fuel missiles, precursors, and oxidizers, presenting them as essential for its space program and national defense. Despite Iran’s strides toward self-sufficiency, China continues to provide crucial technological expertise and supply chain resilience, ensuring Tehran’s capabilities remain robust even after setbacks.
Israel’s strikes in October significantly disrupted........
© The Times of Israel (Blogs)
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