Iran is intensifying efforts to restore its ballistic missile program, despite the United Nations reimposing sanctions last month that prohibit arms sales to the Islamic Republic and ban any ballistic missile-related activity, CNN reported Monday.
According to European intelligence sources cited in the report, several shipments of sodium perchlorate, a key compound in the production of solid fuel used to power Iran's conventional medium-range missiles, have arrived at Iran's Bandar Abbas port from China since the UN's "snapback" sanctions mechanism was triggered at the end of September.
These sources said the shipments, which began arriving on September 29, contain 2,000 tons of sodium perchlorate purchased by Iran from Chinese suppliers. The acquisition follows the extensive damage Iran's missile infrastructure suffered during the Gaza War, and appears to be part of a determined effort to replenish its depleted missile stockpiles. Some of the Chinese shipping companies and entities involved are already under US sanctions. (Read More)
