FDD | June 6, 2025
Latest Developments
- Iran Orders Missile Fuel Ingredient: Iran has ordered thousands of tons of a key ingredient in ballistic missile fuel from China as it seeks to rebuild its missile arsenal and those of its various terrorist proxies throughout the Middle East. According to a June 5 report in The Wall Street Journal, the Iranian Pishgaman Tejarat Rafi Novin Co. recently ordered a large shipment of ammonium perchlorate from Hong Kong-based Lion Commodities Holdings Ltd., sufficient to provide fuel for an estimated 800 ballistic missiles. The Chinese Foreign Ministry denied being aware of the contract, saying that it strictly controls the export of “dual-use items.”
- U.S. Sanctions Iranian Missile Material Network: The United States previously imposed sanctions on several individuals and entities for assisting Iran in procuring ballistic missile propellant ingredients. In February and March, two Iranian ships carrying 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate arrived in Iran from China — enough to create fuel for approximately 260 short-range missiles. At least part of the shipment, along with other chemicals used to manufacture missile fuel, was linked to an explosion at Shahid Rajaee port in April that killed dozens of people.
- Iran Seeks to Rearm Proxies: Despite engaging in nuclear negotiations with the United States, Iran is working to rebuild its missile arsenal and support the rearmament of its terrorist proxies, including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis in Yemen, and Iraqi Shia militias. In retaliation for a massive Iranian missile and drone barrage, Israel destroyed several targets associated with Iran’s missile production on October 26, 2024. The IDF has also conducted targeted strikes on the missile arsenal of Hezbollah in Lebanon, which was previously Iran’s best-armed proxy, and destroyed an Iranian-run missile production facility in Syria.
FDD Expert Response
“Tehran is sprinting to rebuild its damaged air defenses and ballistic missile production capacity and bolster its missile arsenal in preparation for future potential strikes on Israel, American forces in the region, and Washington’s Arab partners. We already know where Beijing stands with respect to Americans, but the Chinese Communist Party’s shipments of ammonium perchlorate to Iran and support for the Iranian regime’s missile program demonstrate yet again that Beijing is no friend of Israel, Saudi Arabia, or regional security in the Middle East. Enough ammonium perchlorate for 800 missiles would be more than double what Tehran needs to replace all the ballistic missiles it launched toward Israel in April and October last year, depending on the type of missile.” — Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD’s Center of Military and Political Power
“This is a reminder that for Beijing, strategic ambiguity is a feature, not a flaw. China publicly champions nonproliferation while quietly enabling Iran’s missile ambitions. Supporting Iran’s arsenal expansion serves multiple objectives for China: tying down U.S. resources in the Middle East, signaling solidarity within the Axis of Aggressors, and keeping Washington distracted as it focuses on great-power competition in Asia.” — Craig Singleton, China Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow
“That Tehran is seeking ammonium perchlorate from Beijing, presumably to bolster both its own ballistic missile arsenal and that of its proxies like the Houthis, should come as no surprise. Washington should step up sanctions and match the Russian nesting doll approach being taken by Iran toward its ballistic missile supply chain.” — Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow
FDD Background and Analysis
“Ship Carrying Chemical for Missile Development Docks in Iran,” by Behnam Ben Taleblu
“Ships in China Loaded With Missile Fuel Ingredients Prepare to Set Sail for Iran,” FDD Flash Brief
“Arsenal: Assessing the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ballistic Missile Program,” by Behnam Ben Taleblu
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