China is Quietly Helping Iran Rebuild Missile Program

Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Yechiel Leiter, issued a stark warning last Thursday, accusing China of aiding Iran in reviving its ballistic missile program, which was severely damaged by Israeli airstrikes. Speaking to VOA, Leiter highlighted “disturbing signs” of Chinese support, specifically shipments of chemical precursors for missile fuel, stating, “It is now our responsibility to ensure that negative actors, primarily China, do not help Iran rebuild.” The allegations, set against the backdrop of faltering nuclear talks and Iran’s growing regional influence, have heightened international concerns about Tehran’s weapons capabilities and China’s role in Middle Eastern instability.

Details of the Allegations

The Israeli strikes, part of Operation Rising Lion, targeted key Iranian missile production sites, including the Parchin military complex and the IRGC’s Shahroud ballistic missile center, destroying critical infrastructure like 12 planetary mixers used for solid-fuel missile production. U.S. intelligence assessed that these strikes could delay Iran’s missile program by at least a year. However, recent evidence suggests Iran is accelerating its recovery with Chinese assistance:

Missile Fuel Shipments: A June 5, 2025, *Wall Street Journal* report revealed that Iran ordered thousands of tons of ammonium perchlorate, a key missile propellant, from Hong Kong-based Lion Commodities Holdings Ltd. through Iran’s Pishgaman Tejarat Rafi Novin Co. The shipment could fuel approximately 800 ballistic missiles, such as the Kheibar Shekan or Haj Qasem models. Additionally, between mid-February and late March 2025, two Iranian vessels, *Golbon* and *Jairan*, transported over 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate—a precursor to ammonium perchlorate—from China’s Taicang port to Bandar Abbas. A mishandled shipment reportedly triggered an explosion at Bandar Abbas on April 26, 2025, killing at least 18 people, including IRGC Quds Force personnel, and injuring hundreds. Chinese nationals were reportedly among the casualties, indicating their direct involvement in Iran’s missile facilities.

Air Defense Support: Following a June 24, 2025, ceasefire with Israel, Iran received Chinese HQ-9 surface-to-air missile batteries, paid for with oil shipments, to bolster its air defenses, which were decimated during a 12-day conflict in June 2025 when Israel achieved air superiority. These systems aim to protect Iran’s remaining missile infrastructure from future strikes.

Broader Military Ties: China has also supplied drone engines, GPS guidance modules, and satellite imagery to Iran and its proxies, including the Houthis in Yemen, who used Chinese components in attacks on Red Sea shipping. In April 2025, Iran reportedly transferred missiles to Iraqi militias, further extending its “Axis of Resistance” with Chinese technological support.

Israel has heightened its vigilance as Iran seeks to rebuild its arsenal, which supports groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies noted that the volume of ammonium perchlorate could enable Iran to surpass its April and October 2024 missile barrages against Israel, which involved over 300 and 180 missiles, respectively. Iran’s missile program, one of the largest in the Middle East, poses a threat to Israel, U.S. forces in the region, and Arab allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

China’s involvement complicates U.S.-led efforts to curb Iran’s military ambitions through sanctions and diplomacy. The U.S. Treasury and State Departments imposed sanctions in May 2025 on six individuals and 12 entities, including Chinese firms like Nanjing Kewei Chemical Co. and Shanghai Rui Trade Ltd., for supplying Iran’s IRGC Aerospace Force Research and Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization (IRGC ASF RSSJO). These sanctions, under Executive Order 13382, target proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. Despite China’s official denials and claims of strict export controls, its role as Iran’s largest oil buyer—purchasing over 1.4 million barrels daily in 2025—and joint naval drills with Iran and Russia signal deepening strategic ties.

International and Domestic Reactions

Israel’s Position: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the Knesset on July 25, 2025, reiterated Israel’s commitment to dismantling Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities, warning that Chinese support could prompt preemptive strikes if nuclear talks fail. Leiter’s remarks were echoed by Defense Minister Israel Katz, who accused Beijing of “fueling Iran’s war machine.”

U.S. Response: A U.S. State Department spokesperson condemned China’s support, stating, “Chinese entities are enabling Iran’s ballistic missile program and Houthi attacks, which is why we’ve sanctioned them.” President Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy continues to target Iran’s military supply chains, with calls for stronger enforcement against Chinese firms.

China’s Stance: Beijing’s Foreign Ministry, on July 26, 2025, denied direct involvement, emphasizing its opposition to unilateral sanctions and its role in proposing a “six-point peace plan” for the Middle East. However, China’s economic leverage over Iran, through oil purchases and trade via Dubai-based intermediaries, suggests a strategic interest in bolstering Tehran against U.S. and Israeli pressure.

Public Sentiment: Posts on X reflect alarm over China’s role, with some accusing Beijing of undermining global nonproliferation efforts. Others called for diplomatic pressure on China, though these sentiments remain unverified.

Historical Context and Future Risks

China’s ties to Iran’s defense sector date back to the 1980s, when it supplied Silkworm missiles and nuclear technology. While Beijing later moderated its support to maintain relations with Gulf states, recent actions suggest a shift toward stronger alignment with Iran, possibly to counter U.S. influence in the region. The April 2025 Bandar Abbas explosion and the presence of Chinese nationals at Iranian missile sites highlight the risks of this partnership, including potential accidents and escalation.

Analysts warn that China’s support could accelerate Iran’s missile production, enabling attacks on regional targets and complicating U.S.-Israel defense strategies, such as the Arrow missile defense system. With nuclear talks stalled—Tehran rejected a total enrichment ban in June 2025—the risk of renewed conflict grows. Israel’s threat of strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, coupled with Chinese-backed missile advancements, could destabilize the region further, especially if Iran equips its proxies with enhanced weaponry.

**Sources: VOA, Ynet, WSJ, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, The Tribune