The United States has imposed sanctions on more than a dozen individuals and entities in the Islamic Republic, China and Hong Kong in connection with Iran's missile program. In a statement released on Tuesday by the US Treasury Department, they were accused of operating a procurement network for Iran's missile and military programs. This is intended to provide Iran with critical parts and technologies for the development of ballistic missiles. "The U.S. will continue to target illegal cross-border procurement networks that covertly support Iran's ballistic missile production and other military programs," it added.

A statement from Iran and the Chinese embassy in Washington were not initially available. Statements from the companies and persons concerned were also not immediately available. China and Iran signed a 2021-year cooperation agreement in March 25 to strengthen their long-standing economic and political alliance. China is a major buyer of Iranian oil, despite American sanctions.

Prior to the announcement of the new sanctions, Iran had announced on Tuesday that it had produced its own hypersonic missile. Photos of the rocket called "Fattah" were circulated on Tuesday via the official Irna news agency. It featured a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Raisi and commanders of the Revolutionary Guards. Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times as fast as sound. Because of their complex trajectories, they are also difficult to shoot down by anti-aircraft systems.