Behind Iran’s Ballistic Missile Programs, Decades of Support From Chinese Nationals

Working through fronts and proxies, Chinese state-tolerated actors persist in aiding Iran’s strategic arsenal, officials said.
Behind Iran’s Ballistic Missile Programs, Decades of Support From Chinese Nationals
Smoke rises from a location allegedly IRGC’s Sarallah Headquarters in north of Tehran, Iran after being targeted by Israel on June 23, 2025. Elyas / Middle East Images via AFP via Getty Images
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News Analysis

Assistance to Tehran from Chinese nationals has long been undercutting the effectiveness of international sanctions against Iran’s nuclear project and missile program. Despite decades of legal and diplomatic action by the United States and other countries, U.S. court indictments and other government documentation show that Chinese business networks continue to deliver products critical for sustaining Iran’s missile production.