Between ten and twelve shipments together containing 2,000 tons of sodium perchlorate, an ingredient for solid missile propellant, have arrived in Iran's Bandar Abbas port from China since the reimposition of U.N. sanctions on Iran at the end of September, according to European intelligence sources. Some cargo ships made multiple trips between Iran and China and appear to be crewed by Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), including the MV Artavand, Barzin, Basht, and Elyana. 2,000 tons of sodium chlorate is sufficient for fueling approximately 500 missiles, according to experts. Iran previously received shipments of sodium perchlorate from China earlier in 2025, including 1,000 tons in February and another 1,000 tons in June. A large explosion in Bandar Abbas in April was believed to have been caused by sodium perchlorate stored there.