Iran has ordered thousands of tons of ammonium perchlorate, a key ingredient for ballistic missile fuel, from China in a move to expand its missile arsenal while nuclear negotiations with the United States continue, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
The shipments, expected to arrive in the coming months, could be used to produce hundreds of missiles, with some material likely to be transferred to Iranian-aligned groups such as the Houthis in Yemen, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
The order was placed by an Iranian company through a Hong Kong-based firm. US officials estimate the material could support the production of up to 800 missiles. Iran has one of the region’s largest ballistic missile programs and has rejected any limits on its missile capabilities as part of nuclear talks.
US sanctions and growing concerns
The US has recently sanctioned multiple individuals and entities in Iran and China linked to missile propellant procurement. A State Department official told the Journal that Chinese support for Iran’s missile program and its regional allies remains a concern.
The shipments, expected to arrive in the coming months, could be used to produce hundreds of missiles, with some material likely to be transferred to Iranian-aligned groups such as the Houthis in Yemen, the report said.
The order was placed by an Iranian company through a Hong Kong-based firm. US officials estimate the material could support the production of up to 800 missiles. Iran has one of the region’s largest ballistic missile programs and has rejected any limits on its missile capabilities as part of nuclear talks.
The US has recently sanctioned multiple individuals and entities in Iran and China linked to missile propellant procurement. A State Department official told the Journal that Chinese support for Iran’s missile program and its regional allies remains a concern.
Previous shipments linked to missile fuel
The move follows earlier shipments of sodium perchlorate—used to manufacture ammonium perchlorate—also sent from China to Iran earlier this year, aboard two Iranian cargo vessels. According to Western officials cited by CNN, Financial Times, and the Associated Press, these shipments were bound for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and could fuel hundreds of mid-range missiles.
Explosion at Shahid Rajaei port still unexplained
In April, a deadly explosion occurred at Iran’s Shahid Rajaei port, where some of the imported materials were reportedly delivered. Iranian authorities have not confirmed the cause of the blast.
However, according to the private security firm Ambrey, the explosion was “reportedly the result of improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles.” Months later, officials have not publicly provided a detailed explanation.
"The Tehran reactor we use was built by the Americans. In Canada and the United States, reactors operate with 90% enriched fuel," Mohammad Eslami said on Iranian state television. "So the percentage of enrichment has no particular significance."
The nuclear chief also stressed that 20% enrichment is necessary for research reactors. "Without the capability to design and manufacture reactors and complete the fuel cycle, one cannot claim to be nuclear-capable — and we are now at that level," he said.
Eslami emphasized that Iran’s nuclear development is rooted in national capability. "We have now reached full maturity in the nuclear fuel cycle, which is the foundation of the nuclear industry," he said.
"The West cannot tolerate this and continues to escalate its hostility toward us in every possible way."
He accused the United States and its allies of trying to maintain monopolistic control over nuclear technology. "They have always said Iran should have no domestic reactor and must import fuel indefinitely," Eslami said. "Our response has always been clear: we will not accept such dependency."
He said the West’s portrayal of Iran’s nuclear intentions was misleading. "They do not want development unless it’s under their flag," he said. "But all our progress has been achieved by our own youth."
On Wednesday, Eslami vowed to continue advancing the country’s nuclear program with “faith, revolutionary spirit, and heartfelt conviction,” asserting that Iran will resist excessive demands from the United States and other global powers in a statement addressed to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Diplomatic talks mediated by Oman between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff have stalled over Iran’s insistence on maintaining enrichment activities inside the country.
US and Iran want an agreement, UN nuclear watchdog says
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi, speaking in Damascus, said that the agency is not party to the negotiations but remains in close contact with both sides.
"They are negotiating, not us, but it is obvious that the IAEA will have to be the guarantor of whichever agreement they come to," he said.
Grossi expressed cautious optimism. "I think they both want an agreement, which doesn’t mean that it’s easy to get," he said. "But having two sides that want a deal is already a big advantage."
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump urged Tehran to respond swiftly to American demands. "Time is running out on Iran’s decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. He also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had offered to mediate.
In March, Trump warned that if a deal was not agreed upon within two months, the US would bomb Tehran, though he did not state a deadline.
Iran has consistently said that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. However, Western powers have accused Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons capabilities—allegations Iran denies.
Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state enriching uranium to 60% U-235. The IAEA has consistently maintained that there is no credible civilian use for uranium enriched to this level, which is a short technical step from weapons-grade 90% fissile material.
“Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism. Iran regularly fails to cooperate with the United States Government in identifying security risks, is the source of significant terrorism around the world, and has historically failed to accept back its removable nationals,” the announcement said late on Wednesday.
"The countries that we have (on the travel ban list) don't have things under control," Trump told reporters in the White House on Thursday.
"And why now? I can say that it can't come soon enough frankly. We want to keep bad people out of our country."
The US State Department designated the Islamic Republic a state-sponsor of terrorism in 1984. However, the latest statement against Iran comes amid sensitive nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Effective June 9, the directive prohibits most travelers from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen from entering the United States. Partial travel restrictions have also been imposed on citizens from seven additional countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
“We cannot have open migration from countries where we cannot safely and reliably vet individuals,” Trump said in a video address. “The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, showed the danger of allowing unvetted foreign nationals to enter our country and overstay their visas.”
The announcement comes days after an Egyptian national was charged with throwing a Molotov cocktail at a pro-Israel rally in Colorado. Officials say the suspect had overstayed his tourist visa and was working illegally in the US. Egypt is not among the countries affected by the ban.
It is also just days after two staff members from the Israeli embassy were gunned down in Washington's Jewish Museum by a man who, according to court papers, said he did it "for Palestine".
The White House said the latest decision follows a State Department-led review, coordinated with national security agencies, which identified persistent security failures, such as inadequate identity verification systems, poor criminal record keeping, high visa overstay rates and lack of cooperation on counterterrorism.
Exceptions to the ban include US lawful permanent residents, holders of valid visas, dual nationals using a non-restricted passport, certain US government employees, Olympic athletes and individuals whose entry is deemed in the national interest.
“The suspension of and limitation on entry... shall not apply to immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran,” the statement added.
The new order builds on Trump’s first-term travel bans, which were upheld by the Supreme Court. The White House said the policy may be revised based on improvements in cooperation or emerging threats.
“Our priority is to keep America safe,” Trump said. “We will not admit those who wish to do us harm.”