By Uzma Ehtasham
Iran’s decision to release footage of a secret underground missile facility has offered a rare glimpse into the country’s efforts to protect its military capabilities from potential attacks. The video, released by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), showed ballistic and cruise missiles stored alongside the systems used to launch them. Although Tehran disclosed little about the installation, the announcement carried a wider message about its military preparedness and determination to safeguard its strategic assets amid continuing tensions with the United States and Israel.
The footage was released on November 10 by the IRGC Aerospace Force, according to Iranian media reports. The Tasnim news agency said the newly established underground facility housed different types of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as their associated launch systems. Senior military officials, including Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Major General Ali Abdollahi, and IRGC Aerospace Force commander, Brigadier General Majid Mousavi, were present during the unveiling.
Iranian authorities did not reveal where the facility was located or how many missiles it contained. The decision to withhold these details appeared consistent with the security considerations surrounding strategic military installations. By releasing selected footage while keeping important information classified, Tehran was able to demonstrate part of its military infrastructure without disclosing the full extent of its capabilities.
The announcement also reflected a broader shift in Iran’s military preparations. The country has increasingly emphasised the protection of its missile and drone programmes against possible air strikes. IRGC spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi had recently said that all facilities involved in producing missiles and drones would be relocated underground. The proposed move was intended to protect both existing stockpiles and manufacturing infrastructure from potential American and Israeli attacks.
The strategy highlights the importance Iran attaches to maintaining its missile capabilities in an increasingly uncertain regional environment. Military installations located above ground can be vulnerable to precision strikes, particularly when their positions and functions are known to an adversary. Underground facilities, by contrast, can make it more difficult to identify, reach and destroy sensitive equipment. They can also help protect production lines and supplies from attacks intended to weaken a country’s ability to sustain military operations.
For Iran, the development is particularly significant because missiles and drones have become central to its military doctrine. Facing technologically advanced opponents with considerable air power, Tehran has relied on its missile programme as an important element of deterrence. Ballistic missiles provide the ability to strike targets over considerable distances, while cruise missiles offer different flight patterns and operational capabilities. Drones add another dimension by providing surveillance and attack options at comparatively lower costs.
Together, these systems form an important part of Iran’s approach to defending itself and responding to potential military threats. Protecting their production and storage facilities is therefore not simply a matter of safeguarding weapons. It is also about preserving the ability to manufacture, maintain and deploy them during a prolonged confrontation. If military infrastructure is seriously damaged in an attack, the consequences could extend beyond immediate losses to affect a country’s ability to replenish its arsenal.
The release of the footage should also be viewed in the context of the long-running confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel. Relations between Tehran and Washington have remained strained over Iran’s military activities, nuclear programme and regional influence. Israel, meanwhile, has repeatedly regarded Iran’s missile and drone capabilities as a major security concern. These differences have contributed to an atmosphere in which military preparations and public displays of strength carry considerable political significance.
In this environment, the unveiling of an underground missile installation may serve more than one purpose. Domestically, it can reinforce confidence in the armed forces and demonstrate that the government is taking steps to protect national security. Internationally, it sends a message that attempts to weaken Iran’s military infrastructure through air strikes may not achieve their intended objectives. The footage also allows Tehran to present its military preparations as a response to external threats rather than an isolated expansion of its arsenal.
However, the public disclosure of such facilities does not necessarily establish how secure or operationally effective they are. Images released by military authorities offer only a limited view of a much larger system. Without independent access, it remains difficult to assess the installation’s size, capacity, level of protection or readiness. The absence of information about its location and missile stockpile also leaves important questions unanswered.
The development comes at a time when political changes in Washington and Israel have added another dimension to regional uncertainty. Reports of setbacks for Donald Trump’s party in the US midterm elections and Benjamin Netanyahu’s defeat in the Israeli elections have contributed to speculation about possible changes in political direction. Yet changes in electoral fortunes do not automatically translate into a reduction in military tensions. Security policies, strategic interests and long-standing disagreements often continue beyond individual governments and election cycles.
Iran’s latest disclosure therefore offers little evidence that the wider confrontation is approaching a settlement. Instead, it suggests that Tehran continues to prepare for the possibility of further military pressure. The planned relocation of missile and drone production facilities underground indicates that Iran considers the threat of air strikes serious enough to influence the organisation of its defence industry.
There is also a wider danger in the continued expansion of military preparations across the region. As one country strengthens its defences, its rivals may interpret those measures as a threat and respond by increasing their own military capabilities. This cycle can deepen mistrust, encourage further weapons development and leave less room for diplomatic engagement. The result is an environment in which even limited incidents carry the risk of wider escalation.
(The writer is a public health professional, journalist, and possesses expertise in health communication, having keen interest in national and international affairs, can be reached at metromorning78@gmail.com)
