A US special operations team intercepted a vessel off Sri Lanka several weeks ago and seized cargo bound for Iran that included Chinese-made dual-use components such as spectrometers and gyroscopes, reports Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.

The US Treasury on November 12 sanctioned a network of companies in China, Iran, Turkey and the UAE supplying parts for Iranian missile and drone production. The sanctions named the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Shun Kai Xing, now known as Honestar (IMO 9187368), for transporting equipment used in guidance systems.

Iranian ballistic missiles and drones have been deployed against Israeli and American targets, including Al Udeid airbase in June 2025 and Al Asad in August 2024. The same systems, exported to Russia, have been used in attacks on Ukraine.

UN Security Resolution 1929 obliges states to inspect vessels suspected of carrying prohibited cargo and to seize banned missile-related materials. The US action was in line with these provisions, aiming to prevent escalation once the cargo reached Iran.

Maritime Executive tracked multiple shipments of sodium perchlorate from China to Iran aboard IRISL vessels Golbon and Jairan. These deliveries, totalling 58 containers, were linked to the April 26 explosion at Bandar Abbas port.

Sodium perchlorate is a precursor for ammonium perchlorate, which makes up 70 per cent of the fuel load in Iran's solid-fuelled ballistic missiles. Despite the Bandar Abbas blast, Iran ordered a further 185 containers, enough to fuel 800 missiles, according to the Wall Street Journal.

European intelligence reported four sanctioned ships carried 2,000 tons of sodium perchlorate from China to Bandar Abbas in September and October. CNN said the cargo was sufficient for about 500 missiles. Some vessels returned to China, raising concerns of continued shipments and prompting calls for stronger enforcement.