image sourced from original article at Deep beneath Iran's mountains and deserts, vast underground networks known as missile cities house thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles. Built by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, these fortified tunnel systems are designed to withstand airstrikes and remain hidden from surveillance, serving as a central pillar of Iran's military deterrence strategy.
Recent footage released by Iranian media showcases hardened facilities storing and preparing precision guided weapons such as the Emad, Sejjil, Qadr and Haj Qassem missiles. Buried hundreds of meters underground, the complexes are engineered to store, fuel and launch missiles while minimizing vulnerability to attack.
Iranian officials say the underground infrastructure guarantees a swift and overwhelming response if the country is struck first. By maintaining a survivable second strike capability, Tehran aims to deter adversaries and reinforce its strategic leverage across the region.
