China is supplying Iran with chemicals for ballistic missile fuel, with vessels carrying sodium perchlorate arriving at Iranian ports amid the ongoing conflict, an expert has claimed. Ships believed to be carrying Chinese chemicals for missile fuel have docked in Iran.

Four sanctioned Iran-flagged vessels have arrived at Iranian ports since the war began, according to an analysis of shipping data. A fifth ship was floating offshore near Iranian waters, tracked by MarineTraffic.

The vessels are thought to be transporting sodium perchlorate, a key precursor for solid-fuel propellants used in ballistic missiles. They departed from Zhuhai’s Gaolan port in China, home to major chemical storage terminals.

Experts suggest the ships could have carried enough material to produce hundreds of ballistic missiles. It is unclear if Iran can still manufacture new weapons after weeks of US and Israeli bombing.

Miad Maleki, a former US Treasury official now at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, told The Telegraph: “It’s definitely an indication that Iran is desperately trying to resupply, and to address the inventory shortage of rocket and missile fuel.”

Mr Maleki added: “Iran has a desperate need for these chemicals while engaged in direct conflict.”

US intelligence told CNN that up to half of Iran’s missile launchers remain intact despite claims by Donald Trump and Israel.

All five vessels belong to the state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line Group (IRISL), which is sanctioned by the UK, US, EU and others. The same ships have previously carried similar cargoes from Gaolan port.

Mr Maleki said: “Iran would be unlikely to use sanctioned vessels for humanitarian aid, as non-sanctioned tankers could transport goods more easily without risking issues at foreign ports.”

The four vessels that docked – Hamouna, Barzin, Shabdis and Rayen – arrived from March 22 after about three weeks at sea. The fifth, Zardis, was expected around 2 April.

The Hamouna, formerly the Canreach to evade sanctions, left China on February 19 and reached Bandar Abbas on March 26 after a five-week journey delayed by the war.

Professor Jeffrey Lewis of the James Martin Centre for Nonproliferation Studies said: “In early 2025, two IRISL ships carried enough sodium perchlorate for 102 to 157 missiles.”

The current vessels are roughly double the size, potentially supplying material for an additional 785 missiles. This could let Iran fire 10 to 30 missiles a day for another month.

Professor Lewis warned: “Bombing may have destroyed production facilities, but the shipments indicate Iran is still trying to produce missiles.”

Vessels can turn off tracking systems, so Iran may have received even more shipments. Some ships falsely reported destinations such as Vietnam.

Most docked at Bandar Abbas, with one at Chabahar. Cargo could be trucked across Iran.

A major explosion at Bandar Abbas in April 2025 killed at least 70 and injured over 1,000. Reddish smoke pointed to sodium perchlorate burning, later confirmed by Iranian sources as linked to missile propellant.

The US then sanctioned Iran and China for procuring these chemicals.

Mr Maleki said: “Iran routinely imports them to supply missiles to Russia for Ukraine and to proxy groups.”

Isaac Kardon of the Carnegie Endowment said: “The shipments show a regular flow from China, treated as commercial cargo for plausible deniability while supporting Iran.”

This mirrors China’s approach to Russia – but it is risky given Beijing’s investments in the Gulf.

Mr Kardon said: “Western forces struggle to stop such flows. It is a strategic problem, and China is acting more brazenly than expected.”

The case highlights the difficulties of curbing missile fuel supplies during the conflict.