Key facts
- Iran has moved part of its strategic capabilities underground to obscure its defence capabilities and weapons production.
- The US has failed to achieve its strategic objectives in the war against Iran, according to Iran's Defence Ministry spokesman.
- Iran's ballistic missile stockpile is estimated to be fewer than 2,000 missiles.
- Up to 90% of Iran's underground missile facilities remain operational despite airstrikes.
- Iran has incorporated lessons from US military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan into its defence strategy.
Iran has moved a portion of its strategic defense capabilities to underground facilities to obscure its capabilities and production capacity from adversaries, according to a statement by Defense Ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik, as reported by the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Talaei-Nik asserted that the United States had failed to achieve its strategic objectives in its conflict with Iran and had instead "imposed costs on the enemy."
These comments come as Iran continues to assess the impact of regional conflicts and reinforce its military infrastructure. The relocation aims to prevent a complete understanding of Iran's defense capabilities and weapons production capacity. Talaei-Nik also emphasized the need for Iran to simultaneously strengthen its defense capabilities and domestic capacity.
Recent assessments suggest Iran's ballistic missile stockpile is fewer than 2,000 missiles, with earlier estimates from the Israeli military placing the figure around 2,500. Despite targeted airstrikes, up to 90% of Iran's fortified underground missile sites remain operational, and approximately 60% of its missile and drone launchers are intact or have been recovered. Iran has been actively replenishing its missile and drone stockpiles, having fired thousands of such weapons in regional conflicts since 2024. Iran's defense strategy has incorporated lessons learned from US military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating that bombings in the capital do not impact its ability to conduct war and that a "Decentralised Mosaic Defence" strategy allows Iran to control the war's end.