Iran expands missile arsenal with key chemical shipment

Iran has reportedly enhanced its missile capabilities following the arrival of a new shipment of strategic materials, as reported by CNN on Friday. The news outlet revealed that two ships recently docked at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port in the south, delivering 1,000 tons of a Chinese-manufactured chemical believed to be a key ingredient for missile fuel. Ship-tracking data confirmed the vessels’ arrival on Thursday.

China has consistently supported Iran diplomatically and economically, particularly in the face of U.S. sanctions, which Beijing has criticized as “unilateral.” This partnership has facilitated Iran’s integration into international organizations led by China and Russia, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS.

The delivery occurs as Tehran faces several regional challenges, including the decline of Bashar al-Assad’s influence in Syria and setbacks for Hezbollah in Lebanon, which have diminished Iran’s regional clout.

Iran possesses the most extensive and varied missile arsenal in the Middle East, featuring short-, medium-, and long-range missiles. Its missile program has been a central pillar of its defense strategy, both before and after the Iranian Revolution, serving as a response to Western sanctions and geopolitical tensions.

The origins of Iran’s missile development trace back to the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), during which Iraqi missile strikes on Iranian cities highlighted Tehran’s lack of retaliatory capabilities. This vulnerability prompted Iran to pursue an affordable and self-reliant missile program as an alternative to costly warplanes or offensive systems.

During the conflict, Iran acquired Soviet-made missiles from Libya and North Korea. In the years following the war, Tehran intensified its missile development efforts with technological assistance from North Korea, Russia, and China, making substantial progress toward achieving self-sufficiency in missile production.