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Iran Showcases New Underground Missile Megacity as Confrontation with US Escalates.
Iran has unveiled a new underground missile base belonging to the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), claiming it houses thousands of short- and long-range ballistic missiles, as well as anti-ship cruise missiles intended for use against maritime targets in the Persian Gulf. This facility, described by Iranian authorities as a “missile megacity,” is part of an already extensive network of underground bases across the country.
Footage released by Iranian media showed senior military officials inspecting the vast underground complex, which contains missiles such as the Kheybar Shekan, Martyr Haj Qassem, Qadr-H, Sejjil, and Emad (Picture source: Mehr News Agency)
The unveiling ceremony was attended by the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, General Mohammad Bagheri, and the Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Division, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Footage released by Iranian media showed senior military officials inspecting the vast underground complex, which contains missiles such as the Kheybar Shekan, Martyr Haj Qassem, Qadr-H, Sejjil, and Emad. These missiles, stored in significant quantities, are positioned to respond to various military scenarios, whether defensive or offensive.
Among these missiles, the Kheybar Shekan-1 is reported to be capable of evading the US THAAD missile defense system, while the Kheybar Shekan-2 has been specifically designed to counter interception. The Qadr-H missile has an estimated range of 1,700 kilometers, while the Emad and Sejjil models are classified as among Iran’s most capable medium-range ballistic missiles. The Martyr Haj Qassem missile is named after General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US airstrike in Baghdad in 2020, underscoring Iran’s determination to continue its military program despite external pressure.
During the visit, General Bagheri stated that Iran’s military strength had "multiplied" compared to previous operations, referring to Operation True Promise II, which involved retaliatory strikes against Israeli military targets. In January 2024, Iran conducted these strikes in response to previous Israeli attacks, highlighting its precision strike capabilities using hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones. Iranian authorities have suggested that only a fraction of the country’s military capabilities was utilized in these operations, implying that further actions could be taken if tensions escalate.
The unveiling of this underground base comes amid heightened tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel. In October 2024, Iran launched missile strikes against Israeli targets, prompting Israeli retaliatory attacks on Iranian military infrastructure. In response, Washington has increased its military presence in the region, deploying B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia, a strategic base capable of launching deep-strike missions against fortified installations such as those in Iran. This US military buildup is intended to deter any further Iranian actions that could threaten American or allied interests.
Despite Iranian claims of the invulnerability of these facilities, some military analysts point to a significant structural weakness in the design of this underground base. The missiles appear to be stored in a continuous tunnel without blast doors or compartmentalization, making the entire site vulnerable to a chain-reaction explosion if a targeted strike were to breach the facility. Recent Israeli operations in Syria and Lebanon have demonstrated that even heavily fortified underground installations remain susceptible to precision strikes or ground infiltration.
This network of underground bases is part of Iran’s deterrence strategy, aiming to project long-range strike capabilities while maintaining protection from potential air attacks. The release of footage showcasing these facilities through state-controlled media serves to reinforce Iran’s message of military readiness as tensions with Washington and Tel Aviv continue to escalate. However, the public disclosure of this base may also expose vulnerabilities that adversaries could exploit, particularly the United States and Israel, whose military capabilities include systems specifically designed to penetrate hardened underground targets. The situation now hinges on the delicate balance between Tehran’s show of strength and the potential response from its adversaries, who may perceive this development as a direct threat requiring immediate countermeasures.