Iran reveals images of underground missile facilities; U.S. bases ‘within range’

In a rare moment of transparency, Iran on Wednesday broadcast pictures of one of its underground missile facilities.

Iran’s FARS news agency aired images of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force of a tunnel reportedly dug 1,640 feet under a mountain, CNN reported.

The images give evidence to Iran’s military overhaul of its missile program in the wake of a new nuclear deal.

A senior Iranian general told state media that the Islamic republic is working to replace its current stockpile with newer weapons.

“As of next year, a new and advanced generation of long-range liquid and solid fuel missiles will replace the current products,” said Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, CNN reported.

“The missiles in various ranges are mounted on the launchers in all bases and (are) ready to be launched,” he added.

The underground facility shown on television was only one of “numerous missile bases” scattered across the country, Gen. Hajizadeh said.

Earlier this month in a speech at a university in Tehran, Gen. Hajizadeh said all U.S. military bases in the Middle East were within range of Iranian missiles.

The release of the footage comes just days after state media reported that Iran had test-fired a ballistic missile, a move the U.S. says violates a U.N. Security Council resolution.

The U.S. vowed to raise the issue with the Security Council at its next meeting. 

France also expressed concern over the missile testing on Thursday, calling it a “worrying message” and a clear violation of the resolution. 

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal on Thursday told reporters the launch “constitutes a clear violation” of the resolution and called it a “worrying message from Iran to the international community,” Reuters reported.

Ballistic missile tests by Iran are banned under Security Council Resolution 1929, which dates from 2010 and remains valid until a nuclear deal dating from July 14 this year goes into effect.

Once the nuclear deal take effect, Iran will still be “called upon” not to undertake any work on missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons for eight years.

However, countries will be allowed to transfer missile technology and heavy weapons to Iran on a case-by-case basis with council approval.

The U.S. has said it would veto any suggested transfer of ballistic missile technology to Iran.