Iran holds secret talks with China and Russia

China, Russia, and Iran are holding secret talks on supplying the Islamic Republic with a key chemical compound used to propel ballistic missiles, which would mean a clear violation of UN sanctions.

This was reported by Politico, citing diplomatic sources.

Tehran has held parallel talks with officials and government-controlled organizations in both countries, including the state-owned Russian chemical producer FKP Anozit, to acquire large quantities of ammonium perchlorate, the main ingredient in solid fuel used to power missiles.

According to diplomats familiar with the matter, the fuel purchase talks in Beijing were led by Iranian diplomat Sajjad Ahadzadeh, who is Tehran's "technology adviser" in China and the region. However, diplomats said they did not know which Chinese companies were involved in the negotiations.

The exact amount of ammonium perchlorate that Iran wants to buy is unclear, but diplomats familiar with its plans believe it would be enough to produce thousands of missiles, including the Zolfagar missile, which has a range of 700 kilometers and has been used by both Iran and its proxies in the Middle East in recent years.

If the deal goes through, some of these missiles could be deployed against Ukraine, diplomats said.

Iran has supplied Russia with kamikaze drones, which it uses to attack Ukrainian civilian targets, and has also advised Moscow on how to circumvent international sanctions.

Author - Olena Madiak, 12/04/2023