The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran unveiled a new underground missile complex on Tuesday, a development reported by Al-Monitor. The facility, described as a "missile city," houses various ballistic and cruise missiles along with their corresponding launchers. The unveiling ceremony took place during the IRGC’s Aerospace Force Week, a period during which additional military achievements are scheduled to be presented, according to the corps-affiliated Tasnim News Agency.
Senior Iranian military officials attended the inspection of the facility. Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and Brig. Gen. Majid Mousavi, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, toured the site. Footage broadcast by Iranian media showed the two commanders inspecting the missiles, launchers, and vehicles stored within the complex. Al-Monitor noted that the ceremony occurred as Tehran renewed its threats of force while regional mediators pursued a diplomatic agreement.
Asharq Al-Awsat provided additional context regarding the strategic implications of the reveal. The publication reported that Maj. Gen. Abdollahi declared during the inspection that Iran would "certainly" destroy Israel. This statement came hours after US President Donald Trump described Iran as "effectively finished militarily" on state television. The timing of the unveiling also followed days after the IRGC announced it had lifted a 2,000-kilometer limit on the range of its ballistic missiles, a move that expands the potential reach of Tehran’s arsenal.
The new underground facility represents a significant shift in Iran's military infrastructure, moving a portion of its missile stockpile beneath the surface. This subterranean storage is intended to protect assets from potential aerial strikes. The presence of both ballistic and cruise missiles in a single complex suggests a diversified launch capability. As the IRGC continues its Aerospace Force Week, further revelations regarding military hardware are expected, potentially providing more insight into the scope of Iran's current defensive and offensive strategies.