Iran’s defense minister announced that missile production continues unaffected following the Israeli airstrike, affirming Tehran’s capability to respond against Tel Aviv.
Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh stated today that production of offensive systems, including missiles, remains uninterrupted. “The enemy sought to undermine Iran’s defense and offensive capabilities, but their efforts were largely ineffective as we had prior intelligence and were prepared,” Nasirzadeh reported at a cabinet meeting.Acknowledging possible damage to a defense system from an Israeli airstrike on October 26, Nasirzadeh noted it was “replaced the next day” without elaborating further.He also reaffirmed Iran’s capacity to launch up to 10 missile strikes similar in scale to those on Israel on April 13 and October 1, each involving 200-300 missiles of various types.
U.S. officials report Iran has over 3,000 ballistic missiles, the largest arsenal in the region. Iran also possesses a vast stockpile of cruise missiles and long-range drones, though exact numbers remain undisclosed.
In a pre-dawn operation on October 26, Israeli aircraft launched strikes on several military sites across Iran, targeting missile and drone production and deployment facilities as well as air defense systems. Multiple explosions were reported in Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, and Shiraz.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the strikes, stating that Israeli forces had targeted Iran’s missile production and defense infrastructure.Satellite imagery suggests Iran sustained some damage, which may impact its future combat capabilities. However, Iran reported it intercepted many missiles, claiming “limited damage” from the attack. Four Iranian soldiers and one civilian lost their lives.Two U.S. researchers recently reported that Israel struck facilities where Iran produces solid fuel for ballistic missiles, potentially affecting Iran’s missile production capacity.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responded, stating Israel had “miscalculated” the strike’s impact, urging neither exaggeration nor dismissal. IRGC Commander Hossein Salami stated Israel had not met its objectives, warning of “unimaginably bitter consequences” to come.
