 "A missile unveiled by Iran is launched in an unknown location in Iran in this picture received by Reuters on August 20, 2020.")
Iran is procuring thousands of tons of missile fuel from China that can power hundreds of ballistic missiles, according to a report.
The development has come at a time when the United States and Iran and engaged in talks regarding the regime’s nuclear programme. Iran has ruled out stopping nuclear fuel enrichment. Moreover, the report of missile fuel’s purchase from China has now emerged for the second time this year.
Iran has placed an order for thousands of tons of ammonium perchlorate to a Chinese entity based on Hong Kong, according to Wall Street Journal.
The newspaper said that the chemical ordered could power as much as 800 ballistic missiles.
Previously, a report had said in January that said that Iran had bought the chemical from China to power ballistic missiles.
However, that lot was later understood to have caught fire in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas . The massive fire killed dozens and injured more than 1,000 people.
Iran ramps up missile programme amid talks
At a time when the United States is engaging in talks with Iran, the regime has sought to rebuild its missile programme.
In clashes with Israel last year, Iran had suffered damages to its air defence systems to the extent that officials said it was left virtually naked. Israel had also struck a missile production site and a site related to the nuclear weapons programme.
The Journal has reported that shipments of ammonium perchlorate are expected to arrive in Iran in the coming months from China.
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View AllSources told the newspaper that some of the chemical would be likely sent to Yemen-based Houthis. While Houthis have reached a ceasefire with the United States, they remain at conflict with Israel.
The newspaper has reported that the chemical was ordered likely before the United States and Iran entered talks.
In April, the United States sanctioned six persons and six entities in Iran and China for the trade of missile fuel, including sodium perchlorate, for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).