Overview
- About 2,000 tons of sodium perchlorate arrived at Bandar Abbas starting September 29, days after UN restrictions were reinstated, according to European intelligence cited by CNN.
- Sodium perchlorate is the direct precursor to ammonium perchlorate used in solid-propellant missiles, which is explicitly restricted under UN measures even though sodium perchlorate is not listed by name.
- Ship-tracking and crew posts point to repeated China–Iran voyages by the MV Basht, Barzin, Elyana, and MV Artavand, with one vessel reportedly disabling its AIS to conceal its route.
- Several vessels and Chinese entities tied to the transfers are already under U.S. sanctions, and U.S. and Israeli authorities have not publicly confirmed the reported shipments in detail.
- China’s foreign ministry said it was not familiar with the specifics and highlighted adherence to export controls, while voicing opposition to the sanctions reimposed on Iran.