Iran Reveals New “Missile City” in Message to America
Since Iran lacks modern naval and aerial capabilities, the regime has long depended on its missile program to project power.
As the U.S. military is directing more and more assets toward the Middle East, Iran is also preparing a show of force amid escalating tensions in the region. Since a ceasefire ended between the Iranian-backed Hamas terror group and Israel in January, a resurgence in violence in the Red Sea has been ongoing. Under the direction of U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, two carrier groups have deployed to the Red Sea where deterring and thwarting Houthi-launched barrages are critical. Additionally, the Air Force is sending several B-2 strategic bombers to the Indo-Pacific, in another cautionary message meant for Tehran. In light of these moves, the Iranian regime released footage of its alleged new “missile city.” Marking the third facility of its kind to be publicized this year alone, Tehran is clearly trying to flex its long-range capabilities to its American and Israeli adversaries.
In the video released by Iran, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh appear to be touring the missile facility. As the two figures travel through the massive base, a range of missiles are displayed. According to analyses of the video, Emad, Haj Qassem, Ghadr H, Kheibar Shekan, and Paveh missiles are all held in the city.
This is not the first time Iran has released such propaganda. In February, the IRGC Navy debuted another underground missile base in the coastal regions of southern Iran. One month prior, the IRGC Navy revealed a naval missile base close to the Persian Gulf just days after the country’s Aerospace Force showcased another underground weapons depot. Since Tehran lacks modern naval and aerial capabilities, the regime has long depended on its missile program to project power. The regime is undoubtedly using its missile city footage in an effort to deter adversaries from attacking.
Tehran’s missile stockpiles have greatly increased over the last decade or so. In fact, according to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, the regime’s total ballistic missile arsenal alone probably extends to over 3,000. Additionally, Tehran maintains a substantial land-attack cruise missile force. Considering Iran’s proximity to achieving a nuclear weapon, its possession of missiles inherently capable of carrying nuclear payloads is a grave concern. When Iran launched a direct attack targeting Israel last spring, U.S. officials estimated that it had deployed at least 120 ballistic missiles. Iran’s high-speed Shahed missile fleet is particularly threatening to its adversaries as these weapons can work at longer ranges. Additionally, Iran possesses a lethal cruise missile fleet that is capable of reaching Israeli territory in under fifteen minutes.
As Tehran continues to build and expand its missile fleet, the regime’s threatening and hostile rhetoric/behavior should be confronted.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
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