Iran claims missile power now 'far surpasses' pre-war levels after Israeli bombardment
Five months after Israel and the U.S.’s bombardment of Iran’s military and nuclear facilities, Iran claims it now has more missile capacity than even before the 12-Day War.That buildup would...
By Fox News · Fox News
Five months after Israel and the U.S.’s bombardment of Iran’s military and nuclear facilities, Iran claims it now has more missile capacity than even before the 12-Day War . That buildup would have implications far beyond the Middle East: renewed Iranian production could threaten American forces stationed across the region and test Israel’s missile defense limits, potentially pulling Washington into another confrontation if Tehran resumes strikes or proxy attacks. "Iran’s missile power today far surpasses that of the 12-Day War," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently declared, touting what he described as the regime’s rapid recovery from the massive U.S. and Israeli bombardment that struck dozens of military and nuclear sites in June. "The enemy in the recent 12-day war failed to achieve all its objectives and was defeated," he said. His comments were echoed by Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh, who claimed that Iran’s defense industry has not only rebounded but expanded. "Iran’s defense production has improved both in quantity and quality compared to before the 12-day Israeli-imposed war in June," Nasirzadeh said Monday, insisting that new missiles are rolling off production lines faster than ever. IRAN PRESIDENT ACCUSES US OF 'GRAVE BETRAYAL' WITH NUCLEAR STRIKES IN UNGA SPEECH The June conflict — later dubbed the 12-Day War — began when Israel launched a sustained bombing campaign on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. The United States joined the operation days later with a series of precision strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that Iran’s renewed emphasis on missile production is no surprise given what it learned during the June conflict. "There’s no doubt that after the 12-Day War, Tehran understands the missiles constitute the long pole in its ability to deter and punish attacks," Taleblu said. "Expect Tehran to therefore con…