China Reportedly Supplying Military Aid to Iran’s Missile Program

Communist China is reportedly providing critical military assistance to Iran’s missile program, according to recent findings from the Institute for the Study of War and Western media reports. This development comes as U.S. and Israeli forces have been working to degrade Iran’s missile capabilities amid ongoing regional tensions.

According to the Institute for the Study of War, “China is helping Iran reconstitute the Iranian missile program amid US-Israeli efforts to degrade it.” The think tank notes that “Western media reported that China has sent multiple shipments of missile fuel precursor to Iran since the start of the war.”

The Daily Telegraph recently detailed how “Ships believed to be carrying Chinese chemicals for missile fuel have arrived in Iran,” raising serious questions about Beijing’s support for the regime. The report identified four sanctioned Iran-flagged vessels that have docked at Iranian ports since the outbreak of hostilities. These vessels reportedly carry “enough chemicals to produce hundreds of projectiles” as they travel from Chinese ports to Iranian destinations.

Of particular concern is the reported shipment of sodium perchlorate, a chemical material essential for Iran’s missile fuel systems. The Institute for the Study of War warns that “China’s efforts to help Iran reconstitute could undermine the combined force efforts to degrade or destroy the supporting elements of the ballistic missile program.”

Gordon Chang, a noted China expert, told Fox News Digital that “China is an enemy combatant and is endangering our troops.” Chang urged the United States to take decisive action by seizing Chinese vessels transporting these materials, stating that “It is a question of America’s will to impose costs on China.”

Chang emphasized that the U.S. holds significant leverage in the relationship with China, particularly through trade. “If you look at the overall relationship between China and the U.S., the U.S. has more cards to play,” he noted, pointing to China’s export-driven economy and its dependence on American consumer markets.

The Islamic Republic has reportedly been working intensively to rebuild its missile infrastructure following substantial damage from U.S. and Israeli airstrikes since February 28. The Institute for the Study of War reports that “Iran has been digging out underground missile bunkers and silos struck by the combined force, in some cases returning them to operation hours after strikes, according to recent U.S. intelligence assessments.”

However, the think tank also notes that while Iran may be quickly reestablishing access to launchers, these are “components of a larger system that has been degraded.” It added that “reported fear and lack of coordination across some Iranian forces mean that medium-range missile systems are still functioning sub-optimally.”

This is not the first instance of Chinese companies being implicated in providing military support to Iran. In 2023, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned one individual and six entities in a network that facilitated “Iran’s procurement of electronic components for its destabilizing military programs, including those used in unmanned aerial vehicles.” The sanctions targeted companies based in Iran, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and mainland China.

Just last month, a report by the Atlantic Council detailed that “China has supplied Iran with drones, anti-ship cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and the components thereof, to aid in its aerial and maritime defense capabilities.” The report added that China has also supplied Iran with technology components found in Iranian drones that have been used against U.S. military installations in the Gulf region and on battlefields in Ukraine.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not immediately respond to requests for comment on these allegations.

This developing situation highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the Middle East, with China’s apparent support for Iran potentially undermining international efforts to contain Tehran’s military capabilities and regional influence.