Western intelligence sources identified an Iranian effort to acquire planetary mixers from China to restore its ballistic missile production capabilities, with a shipment departing by sea in recent weeks that failed to reach Iran, according to a Twitter post by @efitriger this morning during the 3-hour reporting window from 4:46 AM to 7:46 AM UTC on December 22, 2025. Planetary mixers produce the solid fuel used in ballistic missiles, a critical component in Iran's missile production chain. Israel previously destroyed many such mixers during an operation referred to as the Calvia, as detailed in the @efitriger post shared via journalist Doron Kadosh. A senior official in the Israeli security establishment stated that Israel has detected a serious and highly advanced Iranian effort to produce high-capacity ballistic missiles. The official noted that this issue will be central to discussions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump next week in Florida.
