IRISL Loads Ships With Missile Materials at Chinese Chemical Port, Sails to Iran

U.S. officials say multiple commercial vessels owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) recently called at China’s Gaolan chemical-storage port.

“Democracy Dies in Darkness 6 min 328 By Joyce Sohyun Lee and Meg Kelly Two ships owned by an Iranian company that the United States has accused of supplying material to Tehran’s ballistic missile program departed a Chinese chemical-storage port this week laden with cargo and headed for Iran, according to a Washington Post analysis of ship-tracking data, satellite imagery and Treasury Department records”

The Washington Post

The vessels loaded sodium perchlorate, a chemical mainly used for rocket propellant and fireworks, and then sailed for Iran.

Washington says the movement could feed Iranian weapons programs.

Beijing denied direct assistance and argued that U.S. accusations overstate routine commercial or dual‑use trade.

Reporting notes that two vessels left the Gaolan terminal this week bound for Iran according to ship-tracking, satellite imagery and Treasury Department records.

Tracking and maritime data cited in the reporting indicate at least 12 IRISL vessels have visited the same Gaolan terminal this year.

Many of those vessels appear to have taken on cargo there and later unloaded at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port.

“Democracy Dies in Darkness 6 min Summary328 By Joyce Sohyun Lee and Meg Kelly Two ships owned by an Iranian company that the United States has accused of supplying material to Tehran’s ballistic missile program departed a Chinese chemical-storage port this week laden with cargo and headed for Iran, according to a Washington Post analysis of ship-tracking data, satellite imagery and Treasury Department records”

Washingtonpost

Specific ships, including the Barzin and Shabdis, were identified as known perchlorate haulers.

Analysts flagged that some vessels made near‑daily calls in mid‑February as U.S. forces massed near Iran and nuclear talks stalled.

Links were drawn to a deadly blast at Shahid Rajaee last year that experts associated with a chemical fire showing signs consistent with perchlorates.

Washington and U.S. officials’ framing underscores concerns about IRISL’s role, given its sanctioned status and the State Department characterization of the shipping line as the 'preferred shipping line for Iranian proliferators and procurement agents.'

“Democracy Dies in Darkness 6 min 328 By Joyce Sohyun Lee and Meg Kelly Two ships owned by an Iranian company that the United States has accused of supplying material to Tehran’s ballistic missile program departed a Chinese chemical-storage port this week laden with cargo and headed for Iran, according to a Washington Post analysis of ship-tracking data, satellite imagery and Treasury Department records”

The Washington Post

Reporting points to evidence from ship-tracking, satellite imagery and Treasury Department records to substantiate departures and connections to Iranian ports.

Public reaction in comment threads expressed both skepticism about intelligence and alarm over China permitting such departures.

Maritime observers flagged operational anomalies.

AIS routing changes and gaps in transmissions suggest some IRISL ships altered courses or went dark after recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian missile sites and depots.

“Democracy Dies in Darkness 6 min Summary328 By Joyce Sohyun Lee and Meg Kelly Two ships owned by an Iranian company that the United States has accused of supplying material to Tehran’s ballistic missile program departed a Chinese chemical-storage port this week laden with cargo and headed for Iran, according to a Washington Post analysis of ship-tracking data, satellite imagery and Treasury Department records”

Washingtonpost

Three reportedly diverted away from Bandar Abbas and one stopped transmissions about 13 miles out.

At least two IRISL vessels were reported en route to Gaolan, raising warnings that Iran's need for propellant precursors has become "urgent to existential" and that Chinese allowances for such shipments could strain Beijing's relations with Gulf states.