Just in case you’re wondering. “Preparing to strike? Over 1,000 tons of missile fuel chemicals head for Iran from China – report,” JPost, 1-22-25. “Iranian cargo vessels will reportedly carry over 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate, a key ingredient to make missile propellant.” … “Two Iranian ships carrying a chemical ingredient crucial for missile propellant will sail from China to Iran within the next few weeks, security sources from two Western countries with knowledge of the matter told the Financial Times. The Iranian cargo vessels – the Golbon and the Jairan – will reportedly carry more than 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate, a key ingredient to make the missile propellant ammonium perchlorate. The officials said the sodium perchlorate on the ships could produce up to 960 tons of ammonium perchlorate, which is enough to fuel 260 mid-range Iranian missiles. Ammonium perchlorate makes up approximately 70% of propellant for solid-fuel missiles. Ammonium perchlorate is a substance controlled by the Missile Technology Export Control Regime, an international anti-nuclear missile proliferation body. The Western officials said that approximately 56 20-foot containers of the chemicals are on their way to the IRGC at the port in Bandar Abbas. The Golbon departed with 34 containers from Daishan Island in the East China Sea on Tuesday; the Jairan will depart China with 22 containers in February. Both Iranian-flagged ships will make the three-week voyage to southern Iran without any stops, the Financial Times reported. The Golbon spent several days in Chinese waters before leaving on Tuesday, according to data from vessel tracker Marine Traffic. The tracker also showed the Jairan about 75 km south of Daishan on Wednesday. … Additionally, the Chinese embassy in the US said it was unfamiliar with the situation and added that China is committed to “maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East and Gulf region and actively promoting the political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.” “Since the early 1990s, China has assisted the Iranian military extensively with its ballistic missile development program and has provided expertise, technology, parts, and training,” former top CIA analyst Dennis Wilder told the Financial Times. “China’s motivation for secretly assisting Iran today includes clandestinely helping Iran produce missiles for the Russian war effort [in Ukraine], cementing common cause against perceived US hegemonism . . . and Beijing’s purchase annually of large amounts of discounted Iranian crude oil.” Washington has also criticized Beijing for purchasing Iranian petroleum, which goes against US sanctions.”
“Iran’s intelligence minister warns against US talks,” Iran Intelligence, 1-22-25.
“Task Force created in Africa to counter terror fears from Iran and jihadi groups” Fox, 1-22-25. The task force will operate globally and in South Africa and is overseen by global authorities on terrorism. … The “Counter-Terror Task Force” will make recommendations to protect places of worship, schools and community centers. “South Africa’s Jewish community, like other Jewish communities globally, faces heightened risk of terror attacks,” Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein told Fox News Digital. “The Iranian regime is the world’s chief exponent of state-sponsored terror, and have made it their strategy to target Jewish communities worldwide. With this in mind, the findings of the task force will be applied not just in South Africa, but globally.”
“How quickly could Iran build its first nuclear weapon? Look at China,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 1-22-25.
“Iran is ‘pressing the gas pedal’ on uranium enrichment, IAEA chief says,” Reuters, 1-22-25.
“UN chief Guterres calls on Iran to renounce nuclear weapons,” Reuters, 1-22-25. We don’t see enough of these calls by the UN.