Iran has increased imports of sodium perchlorate, a key ingredient in solid-fuel ballistic missiles, with recent shipments tracked from China to Bandar Abbas, reported Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.

Two Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines vessels, Golbon and Jairan, delivered 58 containers of sodium perchlorate from Shanghai to Iran before the 12-Day War. The estimated 1,000 tonnes could fuel up to 240 missiles and were unloaded into the Shahid Rajaei container park by March.

Sodium perchlorate, classified as hazardous in the US, poses explosive risks and health hazards. It is used to produce ammonium perchlorate, which comprises 70 per cent of Iran's missile fuel load, and also serves as an oxidising agent in industrial processes.

The shipments, carried by IRISL, fall under UN Security Council Resolution 1929, which warns of IRISL's role in Iran's missile development. Snap-back sanctions were reimposed on September 28, strengthening oversight of such activities.

Following the ships' return, the US Treasury sanctioned six Iranian and six Chinese entities on 29 April for their roles in procuring missile propellant materials for the IRGC. Sanctioned Chinese firms include Yanling Chuanxing Chemical, Dongying Weiaien Chemical, China Chlorate Tech, Shenzhen Amor Logistics and Yanling Lingfeng Chlorate.