In a newly released video from Iranian state media, two of the country’s top military leaders are seen driving through a vast underground weapons facility packed with missiles and rockets. The video, set to ominous music, serves as a direct message to Iran’s adversaries, suggesting that the country is prepared for any potential attack and is capable of a swift and devastating response. However, while the footage intends to showcase Iran’s military prowess, it inadvertently highlights a major structural vulnerability that could prove disastrous in a conflict.
The 85-second video features Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, and Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Aerospace Force (IRGC-AF). As they drive through the subterranean tunnel, the footage reveals an array of advanced weaponry, including Kheybar Shekan ballistic missiles, Ghadr-Hs, Sejjils, Haj Qassems, and Paveh Land Attack Cruise Missiles. Many of these weapons have been used in previous conflicts, including Iran’s attack on Israel last fall.
The underground facility, often referred to as “Missile City,” is part of Iran’s broader strategy to conceal and protect its missile arsenal from aerial and cyber attacks. Iran has long maintained a network of subterranean military installations to safeguard its strategic assets from airstrikes. This network has been a cornerstone of Iran’s asymmetric warfare strategy, designed to counter the superior aerial capabilities of the United States and Israel.
Despite the intended message of military dominance, the video exposes a critical flaw in the facility’s design: the munitions are stored in open spaces within long, continuous tunnels with no visible blast doors or separated compartments. This setup presents a serious risk, as a single penetrating strike could trigger a catastrophic chain reaction of secondary explosions, effectively neutralizing a significant portion of Iran’s missile arsenal in one blow.
Military analysts note that while Iran has built more fortified underground bunkers capable of launching missiles through surface apertures, this particular facility lacks such protective measures. Compared to other subterranean weapons depots, which often include blast-resistant doors, reinforced revetments, and compartmentalized storage areas, the layout of this “Missile City” leaves it highly vulnerable to precision airstrikes or sabotage.
The release of the video comes at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a two-month deadline for Iran to renegotiate a nuclear agreement. Trump’s stance on Iran has been uncompromising, especially since his administration withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018. The recent video could be interpreted as Iran’s response to Washington’s pressure, signaling that Tehran remains undeterred and prepared for confrontation.
Additionally, U.S. military activity in the region has increased. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently ordered the deployment of the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to the Middle East, where it will join the USS Harry S. Truman strike group, whose presence in the region has been extended. Reports also indicate that a dozen F-35 stealth fighters have arrived in the area, further reinforcing U.S. deterrence.
In another significant development, satellite imagery suggests that B-2 Spirit stealth bombers are being forward-deployed to Diego Garcia, a highly strategic British territory in the Indian Ocean. The B-2, known for its ability to penetrate heavily fortified defenses and destroy underground bunkers with precision-guided munitions, could be a direct response to Iran’s subterranean missile facilities.
This is not the first time Iran has publicized its underground military infrastructure. In November 2020, Iran released footage of a ballistic missile complex where missiles were stored vertically in automated railway-style systems, allowing for rapid launches. Three years later, in 2023, Iran revealed an underground airbase reportedly housing F-4D/E Phantom IIs, a key part of the country’s aging air force.
While these facilities are designed to resist aerial attacks, history has shown that they are not impenetrable. In September of last year, Israel conducted a devastating raid on a fortified underground missile production site in Syria, a facility linked to Iranian military operations. Israeli special forces were inserted by helicopter to retrieve intelligence before destroying the installation. Weeks later, Israeli aircraft carried out another attack using bunker-buster bombs on the underground command center of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, ultimately killing him.
These incidents underscore a key vulnerability: despite their depth and fortification, underground complexes remain susceptible to precise military strikes. The newly revealed Iranian missile facility, with its unprotected storage design, could be a prime target in any future conflict.
According to Mohammed al-Basha, founder of the Basha Report, a U.S.-based risk advisory firm, “The video was almost certainly released as part of Iran’s broader deterrence messaging. It is now being widely circulated across pro-‘Axis of Resistance’ Telegram channels and WhatsApp groups, amplifying Iran’s strategic signaling.”
By showcasing its underground capabilities, Iran is attempting to project strength not only to its adversaries but also to its allies and domestic audience. The video reinforces Iran’s narrative of resilience against Western threats while boosting morale among its military forces.
However, this strategy is not without risks. If Iran’s adversaries view the facility’s vulnerabilities as an opportunity, it could invite preemptive strikes designed to neutralize these missile stockpiles before they can be deployed in combat.
The exposure of this underground complex presents a crucial strategic dilemma. On one hand, it demonstrates Iran’s ability to mass-produce and store large quantities of advanced missiles. On the other, it reveals a fatal weakness that could be exploited in a military confrontation.
For the United States and Israel, the takeaway is clear: if hostilities escalate, striking Iran’s missile depots could yield significant gains, potentially crippling its long-range attack capabilities in a single coordinated strike. The presence of B-2 bombers in Diego Garcia only reinforces this possibility, as these aircraft specialize in neutralizing hardened underground targets.
For Iran, the challenge is now twofold. It must continue its strategic messaging while also reinforcing its defenses against potential precision attacks. Whether it chooses to fortify its facilities or double down on its deterrence posture remains to be seen.
As tensions in the region continue to mount, Iran’s underground missile facilities will remain a focal point of international scrutiny. While the country may hope to use them as a deterrent, the recent video may have inadvertently provided its adversaries with a roadmap for their destruction.
