TEHRAN: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has unveiled a new underground missile base, local media reported.
Footage broadcast by state-run IRIB television on Friday night showed the facility, described as a “missile city,” in the presence of Revolutionary Guards Commander Hossein Salami and Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh. The unveiling ceremony was shown below.
A state television narrator said the base houses Iran’s most advanced missiles, including the Emad, Qadr and Qiam, all of which are liquid-fueled. The underground facility is one of hundreds of bases belonging to the Revolutionary Guard’s Aerospace Forces, Xinhua news agency reported, citing IRIB.
The footage shows missiles from the base being used in Iran’s second retaliatory military operation against Israel in October last year.
During his visit to the base, Salami praised the military’s involvement in the operations against Israel on April 14, 2024 and later in October. He said Iranian defense systems and missiles are “increasing every day in different regions of the country.”
He dismissed claims by “enemies” that Iran’s missile production capacity had been disrupted, insisting that the country’s missiles “are increasing and improving every day, not only in quantity but also in quality, efficiency and design.” did.
On October 1, 2024, Iran fired dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel, killing Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, senior Iranian commander Abbas Nilforushan, and others. They claimed that the attack was in retaliation for the assassination of a key resistance figure.
Meanwhile, the US news site Axios recently reported that US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told US President Joe Biden, “Before Iran moves towards nuclear weapons, the United States should Iran’s military also conducted exercises in response to reports that the Iranians had presented options for a possible attack on the facility. January 20, 2025. ”
Last week, Iran’s armed forces began a large-scale joint air defense exercise near the Natantouran enrichment facility in central Isfahan province.
According to IRIB TV, Exercise “Ektedar” (Power) 1403 was launched on the orders of Khatam al-Anbia Air Base Commander Kader Rahimzadeh.
In the first phase, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Aerospace Forces will carry out “full-scale point defense of nuclear facilities against multiple air threats under severe electronic warfare conditions,” according to IRIB news agency.
Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said on Monday that the annual exercise is aimed at maintaining and improving military preparedness, countering potential military threats and sabotage, and boosting public morale. said.
