According to the state media, it is understood that Iran has unveiled an underground base for strategic missiles on it’s gulf coastline.
Major General Hussein Salami, the head of Iran’s Elite Revolutionary Guards was shown via national broadcast making a tour of the long underground tunnel lines with missiles and missile launchers.
The on-going dispute with the U.S and neighboring Arab countries with Iran and it’s ballistic missile program still remains at a stale-mate and the Iranian leaders have indicated that the subject is not up for negotiations.
The killing of General Quassem Soleiman in January 2020 by the U.S. resulted in Tehran’s retaliation of firing over a dozen missiles at U.S. positions in Iraq.
General Salami quoted that” what you see is one of several IRGC Naval Strategic Missiles Facilities which includes launching pads for long range missiles that have precision range of hundreds of kilo meters.
With the existing tension between the U.S and Iran, the timing of the unveiling of the ballistic missile base is not good.
The nuclear deal signed between the U.S and Iran in 2015 was dissolved by President Donald Trump in 2018. Iran informed that they had commenced enriching the uranium by 20% which is over and above the limits as per the 2015 nuclear deal.
President Elect Joe Biden’s National Security Adviser, Mr. Jake Sullivan stated that once the president is in office a “follow-on” of the ballistic missile capabilities will be reinstated . He further stated that Iran’s Missile program will be part of the discussions.
In a nationwide telecast, Iran’s supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini has said that the sanctions against his country has to be lifted whether or not the U.S refuses the pact. He further stated that he has no faith in the corona vaccines being developed by the western countries and has ordered that no vaccines be allowed into the country.
The recent seizure of a south korean chemical tanker in the persian gulf is an added provocation in the wake of the announcement of the ballistic missile base and enhanced enrichment of uranium.
Both of the above have been condemned by US State Department and the U.S. has had B-52 Bombers fly over the region together with the USS Nimitz Aircraft Carrier being ordered to remain instead of re-routinf home.