World

IRGC Claims Underground Facilities Enable Continuous Missile Production

By Al Jazeera Staff

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) announced that it is constructing underground military complexes that can sustain missile production and storage even under heavy bombardment. IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi made the statements during a news conference in Tehran, as reported by Iranian media. He highlighted the planned unveiling of an “underground missile city” and said the IRGC has moved its missile and drone production lines from surface sites to subterranean facilities. This shift, he explained, allows Iran to keep producing missiles while adversaries believe its stockpiles are diminishing.

Mohebbi also described advances in stealth technology, claiming that these improvements enable Iran’s missiles and drones to penetrate air‑defence systems and strike targets accurately, citing previous conflicts with the United States and Israel. He stated, “Today, every weapon used by the IRGC Aerospace Force is manufactured using homegrown knowledge and expertise. Moreover, our products are not even derived from reverse‑engineering captured enemy war material,” as quoted by IRNA.

A recent report by The Wall Street Journal noted that Iran caused billions of dollars in damage to U.S. bases in the Middle East during earlier rounds of fighting. A separate Reuters report found that Iran had successfully targeted Gulf infrastructure on at least 135 occasions in the same period, also causing billions of dollars in damage and lost revenues.

Mohebbi warned that restrictions on the range of Iranian missiles had been lifted, following a statement by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei that there would be “no geographical limits” to Iran’s response if it were attacked again by the U.S. and Israel. The U.S.–Israeli war on Iran began on February 28, prompting Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz and triggering a global energy crisis.

Mediation efforts have intensified as regional countries seek to end the conflict. On Friday, President Donald Trump said the U.S. military launched limited strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island and claimed Washington had made “a lot of progress” in talks with Iran. Tehran has warned it will target Gulf energy infrastructure if fighting resumes, potentially pushing energy prices higher.

Washington has imposed additional sanctions on Iran to pressure the country to meet its demands, further straining Iran’s economy and prompting the adoption of new trade routes. On Saturday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the creation of a new task force to support ongoing U.S. efforts to prevent Iran from using land routes to transport advanced weapons and other materials. The U.S. has also imposed a naval blockade on Iran to prevent oil exports.