Iran reveals new underground missile base to the world
The chief commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, has unveiled a new ballistic and cruise missile base at an unknown location in Hozmogan province, amid growing tensions between the Islamic Republic and the United States. The arsenal also includes equipment capable of electronic warfare.
The presentation of the new base was attended by Commander Salami, Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the Iranian navy and other senior Iranian military officials.
It is not known at this stage what other types of arsenals the new base may house, but other Iranian "cities" have been known to possess large quantities of ballistic and precision-guided missiles, launch systems and military equipment.
The inauguration of this atypical city took place on Monday and is part of a new Iranian underground missile base. However, it is not the only ballistic city in the country, which has already demonstrated such facilities in several cities and provinces.
Hossein Salami told state media that "the base is one of multiple bases that house the Guard's strategic missiles" and indicated that the missile columns and their launching systems "extend for kilometres".
According to the commander, this new base increases the firing capability of naval defences and is operational to exercise electronic warfare and also increase the firing capability of naval defences. This electronic warfare would aim to reduce, exploit or eliminate hostile use of all energy spectra and use it to one's advantage.
In videos broadcast by Press TV, a dozen mobile launchers and an underground storage facility capable of holding hundreds of missiles are shown. Similarly, the Revolutionary Guard received 340 new ships, some of which have drones installed.
According to Salami's statement, "what we see today is a small part of the large and extensive missile capability of the Revolutionary Guard's naval forces". Despite the threat that this weaponry could pose to neighbouring countries such as Israel, Iran argues that the arsenal is for defensive purposes only.
On the other hand, Revolutionary Guard Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri has revealed that Iran has several "missile cities" underground and on the high seas that are "a nightmare for the enemy".
Today, the Revolutionary Guard has become a major military and political force in Iran with some 150,000 troops comprising ground, air and sea units. Internally, the Revolutionary Guard includes the Basij Resistance Force, an all-volunteer paramilitary force founded on the orders of Ayatollah Khomeini.
