Iran Steps Up Imports of Chinese Rocket Fuel Material

Iran appears to have accelerated the import of sodium perchlorate, the primary material used to manufacture ammonium perchlorate, which in turn makes up 70 percent of the standard fuel load of most of Iran’s solid-fueled ballistic missiles.

Before the 12-Day War, The Maritime Executive tracked the progress of two Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) cargo ships, the MVs Golbon and Jairan, as they shipped a total of 58 containers of sodium perchlorate from the port of loading in Shanghai to Bandar Abbas. These two consignments brought in sufficient sodium perchlorate, probably about 1,000 tons, to fuel 240 missiles. Both ships had unloaded their consignments by the end of March into the Shahid Rajaei container park in the Bandar Abbas Commercial Port, and these are believed to have been the source of the explosion that devastated the port area on April 26.

In the pellet form it is being shipped in, sodium perchlorate is classified in the United States as a hazardous product, with explosive risks, and the fumes from which can cause breathing difficulties and kidney failure. Besides being the feedstock for ammonium perchlorate, it can also be used as an oxidizing agent in engraving processes and in the manufacture of livestock fattening agents. But as a dual-use product, and specifically because it is being conveyed by IRISL, the shipment should fall under the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1929, which cautions states to be aware of IRISL’s sanctions-breaking activities and its role in supporting Iran’s missile development, manufacture, and maintenance activities. These sanctions have been strengthened since snap-back sanctions were re-imposed by the UN Security Council on September 28.

Post the safe return of MVs Golbon and Jairan, the U.S. Treasury announced on April 29 that it had sanctioned an additional six companies and six individuals based in Iran and China for their roles in the network procuring ballistic missile propellant ingredients on behalf of the IRGC. Besides those sanctioned in Iran, five Chinese companies based in Hunan and Shandong Provinces involved in the manufacture of dual-use chemicals have been sanctioned: Yanling Chuanxing Chemical, Dongying Weiaien Chemical, China Chlorate Tech, Shenzhen Amor Logistics, and Yanling Lingfeng Chlorate...When MVs Golbon and Jairan left Shanghai, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) noted that a further 185 20-foot containers of sodium perchlorate had been ordered by Iran, sufficient to fuel a further 800 ballistic missiles. At the time, The Maritime Executive spotted that three medium-sized container ships owned by IRISL were waiting to load in the CMK/K14 anchorage off Shanghai, namely MVs Barzin (IMO 9820269), Rayen (IMO 9820245), and Behta (IMO 9349590), all previously sanctioned.

appetite for sodium perchlorate is unclear, especially since it does have innocent civilian dual uses. But if there is a rapprochement between the United States and China on trade matters, and given that materials are dual-use and carried on IRISL ships, then the Chinese government is likely to be less inclined to turn a blind eye to continued exports of sodium perchlorate to Iran.