Citing intelligence from security services of two Western countries, the report specifies that the Golbon and Jairan ships, sailing under the Iranian flag, will transport over 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate, which is used to manufacture a key component of solid rocket fuel.
Sources indicate that sodium perchlorate can produce 960 tons of ammonium perchlorate, which constitutes about 70% of solid rocket propellant. This amount could potentially yield 1,300 tons of fuel, enough for 260 Iranian medium-range missiles, including the Kheybar Shekan or Haj Qasem missiles, according to the sources.
The Chinese Embassy in the United States stated it is "unfamiliar" with the situation and emphasized that Beijing is committed to "maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region."
By late 2024, Iran has supplied Russia with at least 200 ballistic missiles, which Moscow has since been using to attack Ukrainian cities.