To replenish Iran’s stock of a key chemical compound used to propel ballistic missiles, China and Russia are in advanced covert talks.  Concurrently, Tehran is in talks to purchase large quantities of ammonium perchlorate (AP), the primary ingredient in solid propellants used to power missiles, from the state-owned Russian chemical maker FKP Anozit. In return, Iran would provide Moscow with additional rockets to use in its war against Ukraine. 

The negotiations to acquire AP have been headed up in Beijing by Iranian diplomat Sajjad Ahadzadeh, who acts as Tehran’s “technology counselor” in China and the wider region.

Solid-rocket fuel, which has a long shelf life and is therefore frequently used by the military, contains ammonium perchlorate as a key ingredient. Solid-fuel propellant motors power the vast majority of Iran’s precision-strike and short-range ballistic missiles. Analysts believe the country is also using the fuel for covert space programs to develop longer-range missiles.

According to Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the author of a recent in-depth study on Iran’s missile program ( comprehensive study on Iran’s missile program), “Iran is deepening its reliance on solid-propellant ballistic missiles in its security strategy.” Therefore, the significance of solid-rocket fuel components like AP as an oxidizer to the regime will increase.

LINK TO NEWS ARTICLE : Iran In Secret Talks With China, Russia To Acquire Sanctioned Missile Fuel