Full Breakdown
Iran Resumes Ballistic Missile Production Amid Ongoing Regional Strikes
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Development: Underground Production Revives
Iran has begun assembling ballistic missiles again in underground facilities, using components stockpiled before the war. The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. and Middle-Eastern officials, identified activity at several sites, including the Khojir missile complex in southeastern Iran. Both liquid-propellant missiles, which require fueling shortly before launch, and solid-propellant missiles, which can be stored ready to fire, are being produced. Production is described as “significantly lower” than pre-war levels because many factories and infrastructure were damaged by U.S. and Israeli strikes and a naval blockade has limited imports of parts and solid-fuel materials.
Background & Context
Operation Epic Fury, launched by the Trump administration, aimed to cripple Iran’s conventional weapons capability. U.S. officials previously claimed that 85 % of Iran’s defense industrial base was razed and that the missile program had been “functionally destroyed.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell later asserted that up to 90 % of Iran’s drone, ballistic-missile and naval industrial base had been destroyed. A ceasefire and a memorandum of understanding signed in June created a brief lull that, according to analysts, allowed Iran to resume limited production using existing stockpiles.
Data & Statistics
- 85 % of Iran’s defense industrial base reported destroyed (U.S. claim).
- 90 % of the drone, ballistic-missile and naval industrial base claimed destroyed (Pentagon).
- 20 ballistic missiles launched toward Jordan; 18 intercepted on September 9 2026.
- 5 Iranian crude-oil carriers destroyed by CENTCOM.
- Analysts estimate Iran could reassemble “several hundred missiles” using pre-war stockpiles.
Official Statements & Responses
- A White House official reiterated that Iran is “weaker than ever before” and that President Donald Trump will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.
- Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the United States had “decimated Iran’s military” and met every war objective.
- Jordan’s armed-forces spokesperson reported the successful interception of 18 missiles and emphasized continued high alert for the nation’s airspace.
- CENTCOM confirmed the destruction of five Iranian tankers and noted that a U.S. warship evaded two missile attacks without personnel injury.
On-the-Ground Reports
Jordan’s air-defense systems engaged the Iranian missile salvo on September 9 2026, destroying 18 projectiles and preventing casualties. The remaining two missiles landed in unpopulated areas, prompting specialized teams to secure debris fields. Iranian state media released footage of senior military officials touring an underground weapons-production site, showcasing visible solid-fuel equipment.
Criticism & Opposition
Tal Inbar, senior analyst with the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, described the expectation that Iran could not rebuild its missile capacity as “extremely naive.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
U.S. officials maintain that the majority of Iran’s missile infrastructure has been destroyed, yet multiple sources confirm ongoing underground production. Estimates of resumed output vary—from “significantly lower” production to the possibility of “several hundred” missiles being reassembled. No independent verification of the IRGC’s claim of damaging U.S. destroyers has been provided, and the exact extent of damage remains unconfirmed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Four of the tankers were struck in the Gulf of Oman, and another near Kharg Island. The crews were instructed to abandon the vessels before the strike,” — CENTCOM
- “Every time Iran tries to attack US Navy ships, it will lose tankers,” — Senator Marco Rubio
- “If there is no air strike on the facility, we can restore damaged infrastructure, buy new parts from other countries and stock them in the facility,” — Tal Inbar
