Iranian Brig.-Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh tours an underground arms storage facility (Photo: Tasnim)
The Iranian regime has unveiled images from an underground arms storage facility that was used in last year’s missile attacks on Israel. The facility contained “new special missiles,” according to Iranian state news outlet Tasnim in late December.
Iranian Brig.-Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh described the facility as a “dormant volcano.” IRGC Commander Maj.-Gen.Hossein Salami, who accompanied Hajizadeh, vowed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would develop “new special missiles.”
“The enemy thought that our production capacity had been cut off, but the growth rate of our missile capacity is up to date; missiles are really increasing and upgrading their capacity and capabilities every day in terms of quantity, quality, skill, and design,” Salami explained.
In a reference to Israel’s strikes on Iran’s missile production facilities in October, he added: “This increase in capabilities means that the IRGC Aerospace Force will once again unveil its newly produced missiles and missile bases in the near future.”
Assessing the accuracy of these statements requires careful consideration, as there are varying perspectives on Iran’s military capabilities. Following an incident involving strikes on Israel in April, some international military analysts raised questions about the technical effectiveness of Iran’s missile program.
Tehran was reportedly “alarmed” after the Israeli Air Force (IAF) strikes damaged Iran’s ballistic missile factories and aerial defense systems. Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in California, admitted that Iran has “some ability to strike Israel.” However, he added, “If I were supreme leader, I would probably be a little disappointed.”
The images released from the underground facility featured several Iranian-manufactured Qadr long-range surface-to-surface missiles, which Tehran revealed in 2007. Israel’s Alma Research and Education Center assessed that the Qadr missile can be fitted with a modular warhead that can contain a large number of bombs.
The Tasmin news outlet further claimed that the Iranian regime soon plans to conduct a new set of military drills, which would include the activation of secret “missile and drone cities” in southern Iran.
Saudi news outlet al-Arabiya wrote that the Iranian regime is sending a message of defiance to the West ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House on Jan. 20.
During a recent demonstration in Iran, IRGC Gen. Mohammadreza Naghdi claimed the United States was “behind all the misfortune in the Muslim world.”
“If we are able to destroy the Zionist regime and withdraw the American bases in the region, one of our big problems will be resolved,” he added.
Iranian leaders often refer to the U.S. as the “Great Satan” and Israel as the “Little Satan” and have openly called for the destruction of the Jewish state. Tehran has invested vast resources in building a “Ring of Fire” that consists of its proxies surrounding Israel. This network includes organizations such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and various militant factions in Syria and Iraq.
Iran’s strategy in the Middle East, however, has begun to collapse, with significant setbacks to its key allies Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime in Syria. Israel has dealt a severe blow to Tehran’s regional influence and strategic capabilities.
Additionally, several Western leaders are concerned about Iran potentially accelerating its nuclear weapons program due to its current military vulnerabilities.
“2025 will be an important year regarding Iran’s nuclear issue,” Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated during a conference in the Chinese capital of Beijing in late December.
