Iran is covertly acquiring a large quantity of ballistic missile components from China, according to recent reports. The imported materials are sufficient to produce at least 800 solid-fuel ballistic missiles, marking a significant effort to enhance Iran’s military capabilities.
On Friday, The Times of Israel cited a report from The Wall Street Journal revealing that Iran has ordered substantial amounts of ammonium perchlorate—a key ingredient for solid-fuel missiles—from a Hong Kong-based company.
The report notes that some of these materials may be supplied to Iran-backed proxy groups such as the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who recently launched ballistic missiles toward Israel. However, the majority of the components are expected to remain in Iran, where reconstruction is underway at missile production facilities damaged by recent Israeli airstrikes.
Analysts warn that this secretive arms buildup could further destabilize the already volatile Middle East and complicate ongoing nuclear negotiations.
China’s Foreign Ministry has stated that it is unaware of such shipments and emphasized its compliance with export control laws and international obligations. Iran’s mission to the United Nations declined to comment on the matter.
