Two Iranian cargo ships are set to leave China starting today, carrying materials intended for the propulsion of at least 260 ballistic missiles. China is assisting Iran in the ballistic missile sector, with many of these missiles reportedly destined for Russia in the war in Ukraine. This report comes three months after Israel severely damaged Iran's missile fuel development capabilities in an airstrike.

Two intelligence sources from Western countries indicated that the shipments are expected to reach the Revolutionary Guards in Iran, the entity responsible for missile development. 

They reported that the Golbon ship is expected to depart today (Tuesday) from the Chinese island of Daishan loaded with 34 twenty-foot containers, while the Jairan ship is set to leave China in early February with an additional 22 containers. It is estimated that each ship will be at sea for three weeks before reaching its destination in Iran.

On October 26, the IDF attacked various targets in Iran in response to an Iranian missile attack on Israel on October 1. Among the targets hit were special planetary mixers intended for producing missile fuel.

Various reports and assessments suggest that the strike severely impacted Iran's ability to produce solid fuel for its missiles, and this damage is expected to significantly delay its development of new missile systems over the next year or two.