Iran’s Pishgaman Tejarat Rafi Novin Co. has ordered thousands of tonnes of ammonium perchlorate, a key ingredient in solid rocket fuel, from Hong Kong’s Lion Commodities Holdings Ltd. The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources familiar with the deal.
The shipments are expected to arrive in Iran within a few months. The substance could be enough to produce about 800 ballistic missiles. The contract was signed even before former US President Donald Trump announced in March that he was ready to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear programme.
Some of the ordered ammonium perchlorate, according to the WSJ, may be transferred to regional proxy groups controlled by Iran, in particular to the Houthis in Yemen. These shipments could strengthen the ability of Tehran’s allies to strike Israel and US forces in the region.
Iran is seeking to rebuild its missile power and network of regional allies after significant losses: Israeli operations undermined Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Bashar al-Assad regime collapsed in Syria.
Previously, Iranian ballistic missiles have already been transferred to Shiite militias in Iraq. New deliveries could significantly expand the range of threats to US troops and US allies in the Middle East.
On Wednesday, Trump confirmed that he had discussed with Russian leader Vladimir Putin the possibility of negotiations with Tehran. “Time is running out for Iran’s decision on nuclear weapons,” Trump wrote on social media.
