Iranian Ships Leave Chinese Port With Suspected Missile Fuel Amid War Escalation
Two Iranian cargo vessels have departed from a chemical storage port in southern China and are heading toward Iran, raising international concerns that they may be carrying materials linked to missile production during the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The vessels—Shabdis and Barzin—left the Gaolan port in Zhuhai earlier this week, according to an analysis of ship-tracking data, satellite imagery and official records reported by The Jerusalem Post, citing findings from a Washington Post investigation.
Both ships are operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), a state-owned company that has been sanctioned by the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union over its alleged involvement in proliferation activities.
Experts believe the ships may be transporting sodium perchlorate, a chemical commonly used as a precursor in the production of solid rocket fuel. The Gaolan facility is known as a major hub for chemical storage and export, and analysts say it has previously handled shipments of such materials.
One of the vessels, the Barzin, has previously been linked to the transport of sodium perchlorate, according to experts and earlier media reports.
Analysts noted that although several IRISL vessels have visited the Chinese port since the beginning of the year, allowing ships to leave with materials potentially linked to missile programs during a regional war would be highly significant.
China, however, maintains that its position on the Middle East conflict remains neutral. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that Beijing’s stance is “objective and impartial,” emphasizing that China supports an immediate ceasefire and a halt to military operations in the region.
Speaking to reporters, Wang called on major global powers to play a constructive role in promoting peace and urged all parties involved in the conflict to return to negotiations. He also reiterated China’s long-standing policy of non-interference, stressing that Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected.
Despite Beijing’s public call for de-escalation, analysts say the departure of the Iranian vessels suggests that Chinese authorities chose not to delay or block the shipments.
According to experts quoted in the report, China could have used administrative or customs procedures to hold the vessels if it had wished to prevent the transfer.
Isaac Kardon, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told investigators that the ships were likely carrying sodium perchlorate and that allowing them to depart may reflect a deliberate policy decision.
Former US Treasury official Miad Maleki, who previously worked on sanctions enforcement related to Iran, also assessed that the vessels were probably transporting the chemical. He noted that the Gaolan port hosts some of the largest chemical storage terminals in southern China.
Washington has repeatedly accused China of supplying Iran with materials and technology that could support its missile program. Beijing has denied the allegations, arguing that many of the goods involved are dual-use commercial products not specifically prohibited under international regulations.
Sodium perchlorate itself is not directly restricted under the Missile Technology Control Regime, although it can be used to produce ammonium perchlorate, a substance that is controlled under the regime and cannot legally be exported to Iran.
In recent years, the United States has sanctioned several Chinese companies suspected of supplying missile-related chemicals to Iran.
In April 2025, Washington imposed sanctions on firms including Shenzhen Amor Logistics, China Chlorate Tech Co., Ltd., and Yanling Chuanxing Chemical Plant over alleged transfers of sodium perchlorate. Later that year, US authorities also targeted a procurement network accused of transporting hundreds of tons of missile propellant materials from China to Iran since 2023.
