Iran has unveiled a vast underground missile storage facility while announcing the production of “new special missiles,” according to reports by Tasnim, a news outlet affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Footage broadcast on Iranian state television on Friday showcased IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami and Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh inspecting the facility.
Tasnim reported Hajizadeh referring to the site as a “dormant volcano.”
Iran’s semi-official Mehr News revealed that part of the nation’s missile operations targeting Israel in October and April originated from this underground base.
Meanwhile, Salami disclosed during an event in the southwestern city of Abadan that the IRGC Aerospace Force is developing a new line of advanced missiles.
Earlier this week, General Ali Mohammad Naeini announced plans for upcoming military drills and war games that will highlight “missile and drone cities.”
This includes an underground missile storage site and a separate facility in southern Iran designed for housing naval vessels, Tasnim stated.
Additionally, the Basij, Iran’s volunteer paramilitary forces, conducted a massive exercise in Tehran on Friday involving 110,000 members, underscoring recent heightened military activity across the nation.
According to Tasnim, Iran’s Armed Forces have carried out multiple war games in recent days.
Iran appears to be asserting its regional influence amid challenges, including attacks on its proxies in Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen by Israel, and the loss of its ally, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. Salami emphasized Iran’s autonomous defense strategy, stating, “Our deterrence has not been designed on the basis of action from any other country.”
In October 2024, Israel confirmed it struck Iranian missile production sites and air defense systems within Iran, citing retaliation for prior Iranian missile attacks on its territory. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the Israeli strikes as a “clear violation” of international law, asserting its right and responsibility to self-defense.
The developments unfold as the United States approaches the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
The Trump administration is expected to revisit its “maximum pressure” strategy on Iran.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials remain hopeful about finalizing a ceasefire agreement in the Israel-Hamas conflict before Trump’s January 20 swearing-in.
