Iran Unveils New Underground Missile City Amid US Tensions

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has released a video showcasing a new underground military complex, which Iranian media are touting as a "strategic missile city." The footage displays ballistic and cruise missiles, warheads, mobile launchers, and storage facilities for missiles and drones. An Israeli expert, Tal Inbar, noted that some missiles featured deliberate blurring, possibly to reduce radar visibility and hinder air defense systems. Inbar also observed an unusual combination of components from two different missile systems, suggesting a warhead designed for the hypersonic "Fattah-1" missile might be mounted on a "Kheibar Shekan" missile, potentially enhancing maneuverability.

The video shows Iran's Chief of General Staff Ali Abdollahi and IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Majid Mousavi touring the underground tunnels. Tehran has not disclosed the complex's exact location, size, or arsenal capacity. Abdollahi stated during the tour that "the impact of advanced missiles on the battlefield will surprise opponents."

This reveal comes as the United States claims to have effectively ended military confrontation with Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump recently stated that Iran's military capabilities are "practically exhausted" and its leadership "decapitated," though he affirmed U.S. forces remain ready to resume strikes if necessary. Iran, however, denies any negotiations with Washington. of spreading "fake news about imaginary negotiations" and demanded adherence to Iran's seven conditions for ending the conflict.

Separately, IRGC Brigadier General Ali Belali highlighted Iran's "Fattah-2" hypersonic missile, first shown in November 2023, claiming its maneuverability makes it difficult to intercept. Unlike the "Fattah-1," the "Fattah-2" reportedly has a hypersonic glide vehicle capable of changing trajectory post-launch, with Iranian sources claiming a range of up to 1,500 kilometers. However, independent assessments suggest that the technologies for this missile may not yet be fully combat-ready.

The underground complex is part of a broader Iranian strategy to protect its missile infrastructure from aerial attacks. IRGC representative Hossein Mohibi previously announced that the Corps is moving missile and drone production lines underground, creating "missile production cities" designed to continue operations even under heavy bombardment. This initiative aims to preserve both missile stockpiles and the capacity to replenish them during wartime, with Iranian authorities citing the country's size, technological development, and distributed infrastructure as key to resisting air attacks. The full capabilities and scale of these underground facilities remain unverified due to Iran's lack of transparency regarding their location and arsenal.