Iran Orders Material From China For Hundreds Of Ballistic Missiles

Iran has ordered thousands of tons of ballistic-missile ingredients from China, people familiar with the transaction said, seeking to rebuild its military prowess as it discusses the future of its nuclear program with the U.S.

- Laurence Norman

Shipments of ammonium perchlorate are expected to reach Iran in coming months and could fuel hundreds of ballistic missiles, the people said. Some of the material would likely be sent to militias in the region aligned with Iran, including Houthis in Yemen, one of the people said.

Iran wants to bolster regional allies and rebuild its arsenal while it pushes deeper into contentious talks with the Trump administration over its nuclear program. Iran has continued to expand its stockpiles of uranium enriched to just below weapons grade and ruled out negotiating limits on its missile program.

President Trump said he discussed the negotiations in a call with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. "Time is running out on Iran's decision pertaining to nuclear weapons," Trump wrote Wednesday in a social-media post.

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.

Lion Commodities director Nelson Barba didn't respond to a request for comment. Pishgaman couldn't be reached for comment. Iran's mission to the United Nations didn't respond to a request for comment. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said China wasn't aware of the contract.

"The Chinese side has always exercised strict control over dual-use items in accordance with China's export control laws and regulations and its international obligations," the spokesperson said.