Iran orders materials for hundreds of ballistic missiles from China, says WSJ

Iran has ordered thousands of tons of ballistic-missile ingredients from China, seeking to rebuild its military prowess, The Wall Street Journal writes, referring to people familiar with the transaction.

Tehran has ordered enough ammonium perchlorate to produce up to 800 missiles. This material is used to produce solid-fuel missiles. As noted, shipments of ammonium perchlorate are expected to reach Iran in coming months. Sources say the contract was signed months ago, likely before Trump said he had proposed nuclear talks to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in early March.

An Iranian entity called Pishgaman Tejarat Rafi Novin Co. ordered the missile ingredients in the past few months from Hong Kong-based Lion Commodities Holdings Ltd., people familiar with the order said. One of the WSJ sources said that part of this batch could be transferred to the Houthis in Yemen. Most of the material will remain in Iran.