Iran has released a new video of a missile city, claiming it to be “one of the hundreds of missile cities” in the country. Within a month, this is the third facility which the Iranian side has revealed. The missile city looks underground and is operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Forces, were seen travelling through the facility on Tuesday. The video was shot only on the day of the visit. Then, the video shared by the Iranian state media showed hundreds of missiles lined up at the complex. According to Tasnim News, Missile like Kheibar Shekan (900-mile range), Haj Qassem (850-mile range), Ghadr H (1,240-mile range), Sejjil (1,550-mile range), and Emad (1,050-mile range) missiles, as well as Paveh cruise missiles are kept in the underground city. The video was almost certainly released as part of Iran’s broader deterrence messaging to Israel and the US.
Iran’s Missile Power
The Iranian position has weakened in recent years due to direct confrontation with Israel, and the fall of Assad has also decreased Iranian influence in the region. The US, under the Trump administration, is also preparing Iran to come to the negotiating table and not go for nuclear enrichment by sending an unofficially direct letter from Trump. The latest video can also be seen as the ‘Show of Strength’ from the Iranian regime in order to show the US that they are not afraid of the latest threat from Trump.
Tension in West Asia is brewing and has not stopped yet. Houthis are constantly attacked by the US, and Hamas has also got bombarded by Israeli forces since last week. The video came days after Trump issued an ultimatum: Accept a nuclear deal in the next two months or face consequences. The threat came after the US conducted a massive strike on Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. The showcase of the missile city may also be directed to show Iran cards to its allies in order to boost their confidence.
Target: Israel
The video also showed Bagheri stepping on an Israeli flag placed on the ground of the facility. “Iran’s iron fist is far stronger than before. 10 times stronger than True Promise I,” Bagheri claimed.
“All the [defensive] dimensions that are required for generating a [military] capability that is 10 times [stronger than] the one deployed during Operation True Promise II, has been created…The enemy will fall behind in this balance of power,” he added.
The ‘True Promise’ refers to Iran’s attack on Israel in April last year. The facility opening is also coming amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, with US President Donald Trump issuing one threat after another to the country.
