Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announce new underground missile facility

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps unveiled what it described as a new underground missile facility in Iran on Tuesday, November 10, according to reports by Al-Monitor, Iran International and Tehran Times. The announcement formed part of IRGC Aerospace Force Week.

Al-Monitor attributed to the Guards a claim that the complex houses ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and equipment for launching them. Tehran Times also described those weapons and launch systems. The facility's precise location, capacity and operational status remain unverified.

Military chief Ali Abdollahi and IRGC Aerospace Force commander Majid Mousavi attended the unveiling, Al-Monitor and Tehran Times reported. According to Al-Monitor, footage carried by Iranian media showed the two commanders examining missiles, launchers and vehicles. Iran International also reported footage of senior commanders touring the complex.

The display followed an earlier announcement by IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi that an underground missile facility and other military developments would be presented, Tehran Times reported. Al-Monitor, citing Tasnim News Agency, said further military announcements were planned during the week.

Beyond the weapons displayed at the site, Iranian officials described a broader effort to put manufacturing underground. Tehran Times reported Mohebbi as saying that the Aerospace Force had stepped up the relocation of missile and drone production lines below ground, extending its activities beyond weapons storage.

The report did not establish that the newly unveiled complex itself contains production lines. The account of its contents concerned missiles and launch systems, while Mohebbi's remarks described the Aerospace Force's wider underground production programme.

Tehran Times also attributed claims about domestic manufacturing to Ali Balali, an adviser to the Aerospace Force commander. He said Iran could design and manufacture the missile systems it needs, including obtaining and processing materials used in solid and liquid propellants.

The unveiling was accompanied by threats from senior commanders. Tehran Times reported that Mousavi declared readiness to confront threats and warned that adversaries' military capabilities could be attacked throughout the region and farther afield. The newspaper also reported that Abdollahi threatened Israel with destruction and warned of surprises in another war.