Latest news with #ballisticMissiles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Iran orders thousands of tons of ballistic missile ingredients from China
Sources estimated that if delivered, the materials could produce around 800 missiles. Iran has ordered thousands of tons of ballistic missile ingredients from China as part of an effort to rebuild its military capabilities while navigating ongoing nuclear talks with the United States, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the transactions. The shipments, which are expected to reach Iran in the coming months, include ammonium perchlorate, a key component in the solid propellant used for ballistic missiles. Sources indicated that these materials could potentially fuel hundreds of missiles. Some of the ammonium perchlorate is expected to be sent to militias aligned with Iran, including the Houthis in Yemen, one of the sources revealed. This move aligns with Iran's broader strategy to strengthen its regional influence and rebuild its missile arsenal while continuing to negotiate with the Trump administration over the future of its nuclear program. Iran has been expanding its stockpiles of uranium enriched to just below weapons-grade levels, despite calls from the US to curb its nuclear activities. At the same time, Iran has made it clear that it has no intention of negotiating limits on its missile program, a point that has remained a major sticking point in international discussions. According to sources, the order for the missile ingredients was placed in recent months by an Iranian entity, Pishgaman Tejarat Rafi Novin Co.. The material was sourced from Hong Kong-based Lion Commodities Holdings Ltd., a company that did not respond to requests for comment. The Iranian mission to the United Nations also declined to comment on the matter. In a statement, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied knowledge of the deal, asserting that China has 'always exercised strict control over dual-use items in accordance with China's export control laws and regulations and its international obligations.' The shipment of ammonium perchlorate is part of Iran's broader efforts to rebuild its so-called "Axis of Resistance" network, which includes a number of terror proxies across the region. These groups have faced significant setbacks over recent years, as well as the ongoing war. These setbacks include Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon and the assassination of key leaders such as Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, former Hezbollah secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and multiple Hamas leaders. While US and Israeli strikes have damaged the Houthis' capabilities in Yemen, they continue to periodically launch missiles at Israel. Beyond supporting regional militias, Iran has also reportedly transferred ballistic missiles to Shia militia groups in Iraq, which have previously targeted both US and Israeli forces in the region. Earlier this year, Iranian ships docked in China to load over 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate, a precursor for ammonium perchlorate. The material was delivered to Iranian ports in mid-February and late March, according to shipping trackers. This quantity of sodium perchlorate is said to be enough to fuel around 260 short-range missiles. The new order for ammonium perchlorate, which was placed months before President Trump's proposed nuclear talks with Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in early March, could supply Iran with enough material to produce approximately 800 missiles, one official estimated. In response to Iran's missile activities, the US Treasury Department sanctioned six individuals and six entities from both Iran and China on April 29 for their involvement in procuring ballistic missile propellant ingredients. Two weeks later, the Treasury expanded these sanctions to include additional Chinese and Hong Kong entities. The US Department of the Treasury also added sodium perchlorate to the list of materials it believes are being used in Iran's military, nuclear, or ballistic missile programs. Iran's reliance on foreign material for missile production is due, in part, to domestic production bottlenecks. Fabian Hinz, a military analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, noted that Iran's defense industry struggles to meet its needs without the continued importation of missile propellant materials. The storage and handling of these materials, however, come with significant risks. A deadly explosion at the Shahid Rajaee port in April, which killed dozens, was reportedly caused by the mishandling of explosive materials by a unit of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Some of the sodium perchlorate imported earlier this year was lost in that explosion, an official confirmed. 'These substances are a major fire and explosive hazard,' said Hinz. 'Iran's defense industrial complex does not have a strong track record in ensuring safety standards.'
The Guardian
5 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Ukraine war briefing: Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv leaves four dead and 20 injured
Russia attacked several Ukrainian regions with Russian ballistic missiles and drones early on Friday, officials said, with Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko saying four people were killed and 20 injured in the capital. Multiple explosions were heard in the city and falling debris triggered fires across several districts as air defence systems tried to intercept incoming targets, said the Kyiv city administration's head, Tymur Tkachenko. Authorities reported damage in several districts and rescue workers were responding at multiple locations. Officials urged residents to seek shelter. A fire broke out in a 16-story residential building in Kyiv's Solomyanskyi district and emergency services evacuated three people from the apartment. Rescue operations were continuing. Another fire broke out in a metal warehouse. Tymchenko said the metro tracks between two stations in Kyiv were damaged in the attack but no fire or injuries occurred. A Shahed drone exploded near an apartment building in northern Ukraine's Chernihiv region, shattering windows and doors, the regional military administration chief said. Explosions from ballistic missiles were also recorded on the city's outskirts, Dmytro Bryzhynskyi added. The attacks came after Russia accused Kyiv of state terrorism over its drone operation striking Russian heavy bomber planes at air bases in Siberia and the far north at the weekend and said it it would respond as and when its military saw fit, as reported by Andrew Roth in Washington and Pjotr Sauer. US president Donald Trump said that during a call with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday he urged the Russian president to refrain from retaliating but fully expected Moscow to strike back over Ukraine's weekend assault. The US president said it may be better to let Ukraine and Russia 'fight for a while' rather than pursue peace immediately, and that he told Putin the two countries were like 'two young children fighting like crazy in a park'. The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, urged Trump to increase pressure on Russia, telling the US president at a meeting in the Oval Office that the violence Trump abhorred seeing was a result of Putin's invasion of Ukraine. The International Atomic Energy Agency's team at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine heard repeated rounds of gunfire that appeared to be aimed at drones reportedly attacking the site's training centre, the head of the UN's nuclear safety watchdog said on Thursday. There were no immediate reports of damage to the centre, it said. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to 'unconditionally support' Russia in the war at a meeting with top Russian security official Sergei Shoigu, Pyongyang state media reported.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine to boost interceptor drone production, increase funding for ballistic missile development, Zelensky says
Ukraine will increase interceptor drone and ballistic missile funding amid increased Russian drone and missile attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an evening address on May 26. "I instructed a significant increase in the production of our interceptor drones, and we will be engaging more funding from our partners to support this," Zelensky said. "I also ordered dedicated funding for Ukraine's ballistic missile program to accelerate missile production," he added. Russia has intensified aerial attacks against Ukraine in recent days. On May 26, Russia launched its third large-scale aerial and drone assault against Ukraine in three nights, killing at least six people and injuring 24 across the country. The attack marked the most extensive drone strike against Ukraine during the full-scale war, topping the previous record of 298 drones just a day earlier on May 25. Russia launched over 900 strike drones over the last three days, in addition to cruise and ballistic missiles, Zelensky said. "Over 900 attack drones launched against Ukraine in just three days, along with ballistic and cruise missiles. There is no military logic in this, but it is a clear political choice — the choice of Putin, the choice of Russia — the choice to keep waging war and destroying lives." Ukraine and Russia held peace talks in Istanbul on May 16, where both sides agreed to a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange. The peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were largely inconclusive, with Moscow reiterating maximalist demands and sending a delegation of lower-level officials. Despite the peace talks in Turkey, Russia has intensified drone and missile attacks against Ukraine. Russia launched nine Kh-101 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS bomber planes and a record number of 355 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys overnight, Ukraine's Air Force reported on May 26. Read also: Ukraine war latest: West no longer imposing range restrictions on arms for Ukraine, Germany's Merz says We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
South China Morning Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong firm sanctioned by US for alleged support of Iran's missile programme
A Hong Kong company has become one of the latest entities sanctioned by the United States for allegedly supporting Iran's ballistic missile programme. Hong Kong-based Super Sources Industrial and its director and sole owner Wang Chao were among those included in a fresh round of sanctions involving six individuals and 12 companies announced by the US Treasury on Wednesday. They were accused of supporting Iran's oil industry and nuclear programme. According to Hong Kong's Companies Registry, Super Sources Industrial was incorporated in August 2019 as a private company limited by shares and located in Tsim Sha Tsui. The record also shows Yungtai Business (HK) Limited was registered as the company secretary at the same address. Both companies do not have official websites. Wang Chao is also the majority owner of China-based Reso Trading Shanghai, which was also on the sanction list. A legal representative of Reso Trading by the name of Wang Piao, a Chinese national, was also targeted. 'Reso Trading has exported missile-applicable aramid fibre to Iran-based entities affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,' the US Treasury Department said.
South China Morning Post
14-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
US sanctions Chinese nationals and HK firm for aiding Iran missile programme
The United States on Wednesday unveiled fresh sanctions against six people and 12 firms – including several based in mainland China and Hong Kong – for their support of Iran's ballistic missile programme. Advertisement The action follows sanctions on a series of entities and individuals linked to Iran's oil industry and nuclear programme the Trump administration imposed in recent weeks. Wednesday's sanctions are aimed at organisations involved in 'efforts to help the Iranian regime domestically source the manufacturing of critical materials needed for Tehran's ballistic missile programme', according to the US Treasury Department. 'The United States cannot allow Iran to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles,' US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. Tehran's attempts to produce missiles and components domestically 'represents an unacceptable threat to the United States and the stability of the region', he added. A truck carrying the S-300 missile system takes part in the annual Army Day celebration in Tehran, Iran, in April. Photo: EPA-EFE Those sanctioned include three Chinese nationals – Qin Jinhua, Qin Dehui, and Wang Chao – who work for a China-based firm which has exported carbon fibre precursor materials to a sanctioned Iranian firm, and another Hong Kong-based company.
