GOLBON

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Iranian ships, carrying ingredient for missile propellant, will sail to Iran

The 'Golbon' and 'Jairan' (IMO: 9167291), both carrying an ingredient for missile propellant, will sail from China to Iran in the next few weeks according intelligence from security officials in two Western countries. The transactions could make the Chinese entities involved subject to U.S. sanctions aimed at curbing Iran's weapons programs, as the two Iranian vessels are already under U.S. sanctions. were expected to carry more than 1,000 tonnes of sodium perchlorate, which is used to make ammonium perchlorate, the main ingredient for solid propellant for missiles. Ammonium perchlorate is among chemicals controlled by the Missile Technology Export Control Regime, a voluntary international anti-proliferation body. Both vessels were initially expected to sail directly to Bandar Abbas without further port calls. Now that the Chinese authorities have been alerted as to what has been loaded in Shanghai, it is possible that the ships’ itinerary and cargo may be adjusted.