The United States has sanctioned six entities and six individuals based in Iran and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for their role in a network procuring ballistic missile propellant ingredients on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Accordgin to the statement of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, this network has facilitated the procurement of sodium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate from the China to Iran. Sodium perchlorate is used to produce ammonium perchlorate, which is controlled by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a multilateral political understanding among states that seek to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology. Both ammonium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate are chemicals usable in solid propellant rocket motors, which are commonly used for ballistic missiles.

“Iran’s aggressive development of missiles and other weapons capabilities imperils the safety of the United States and our partners,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.  “It also destabilizes the Middle East, and violates the global agreements intended to prevent the proliferation of these technologies.  To achieve peace through strength, Treasury will continue to take all available measures to deprive Iran’s access to resources necessary to advance its missile program.”

Iran-based Saman Tejarat Barman Trading Company (STB) has procured sodium perchlorate for use by the IRGC, and Iran-based STB associate Mohammad Asgari (Asgari) has coordinated the shipment of that sodium perchlorate from China to the IRGC in Iran with China-based Shenzhen Amor Logistics Co Ltd (Shenzhen Amor).  

Shenzhen Amor has also coordinated the STB shipment with other China-based companies, including Yanling Chuanxing Chemical Plant General Partnership, China Chlorate Tech Co Limited and Yanling Lingfeng Chlorate Co Ltd. 

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