Iran unveils deep underground missile depot to counter US strikes
Tehran displayed a new facility housing ballistic and cruise missiles, signaling its arsenal remains intact despite recent diplomatic and military friction.
By Christopher Singh ·
Iran revealed a large underground facility designed to store and launch its missile stockpile on Tuesday. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, released footage of the site to demonstrate that its military capabilities remain operational. The presentation serves as a direct response to recent US and Israeli airstrikes that targeted Iran's defense infrastructure.
The facility, shown in video provided by the Tasnim News Agency, contains both ballistic and cruise missiles. Open-source intelligence analysts examined the images and identified Fattah-1 medium-range ballistic missiles inside the complex. They also spotted maneuvering re-entry vehicles and older missiles with plain conic heads. One analyst noted a commercial truck equipped with a hidden missile in its rear compartment, a design that allows the weapon to blend into civilian traffic before launching.
Major General Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, and Brigadier General Majid Mousavi, who commands the IRGC Aerospace Force, toured the site. Abdollahi stated that the advanced missiles would surprise enemies with their battlefield impact. He warned that if Iran faces renewed attacks, its response would extend beyond the Middle East. The previous head of the aerospace force, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, was killed in 2025 during the conflict with Israel.
The unveiling coincides with active diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran. Qatar is currently mediating between the two sides. US President Donald Trump recently met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss the region. These talks occur while the US conducts strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island.
IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi announced on November 7 that missile and drone production has moved from aboveground facilities to underground complexes. He claimed that Iran's domestic expertise allows weapons manufacturing to continue even under heavy bombardment. This shift follows satellite imagery from February 2026 that showed Iran repairing damaged bases and reinforcing nuclear facilities.
The new display challenges the narrative that Iran's arsenal was destroyed in March. At that time, Israel's prime minister claimed Tehran lost the ability to produce ballistic missiles after twenty days of conflict. Iran has spent years building these underground sites to protect its stockpiles from detection. The new facility indicates that Tehran believes its deep underground infrastructure can survive sustained aerial attacks.
