The Tehran Times, an Iranian state-affiliated media, reports that Iran has prepared hundreds of ballistic missiles for launch, in Transport Erector Launchers (TEL) and underground strategic bases across the country.
According to the report, Iran has taken these preparatory measures to deal with any possible U.S. act of aggression against the country. President Trump has threatened with military action against Iran's nuclear program, if Tehran does not negotiate a new Nuclear Deal within two months.
Iran has dozens of strategic missile sites located throughout the country, many of them located in deep underground bases, consisting of tunnels, bunkers, storage sites, living quarters, and launch silos. Some of these 'missile cities', as Iran calls them, are located several hundreds of meters underground, a depth that is sufficient enough to protect the missiles and their launch systems from being destroyed in most conventional airstrikes.
Estimates of Iran's total ballistic missile stockpile differ, but the Islamic Republic is believed to have at least tens of thousands of missiles ready for deployment, with a large variety of both newer and older missiles in active service. Iran possesses one of the largest ballistic missile arsenals in the world, and has developed technologically advanced missiles that few other countries have, such as the Fattah-1, a hypersonic ballistic missile that first saw operational use against Israel in October 2024.
While the United States continues to assemble a wide array of different aircraft at Diego Garcia airbase in the Indian Ocean, including B-2 'Spirit' stealth bombers and B-52 'Stratofortress' bombers, Iran still has an ace up its sleeve. The Khorramshahr-4 ballistic missile, an MRBM with an officially declared range of 2,000km, actually has a working range of up to 4,000km, even without needing to reduce its warhead size. The missile could use its maneuvering stage to increase range, while maintaining its large 1500kg warhead. It also has the option to deploy cluster warheads and exo-atmospheric submunition, guaranteeing sustained damage over a wide area, compensating for a possible lack of accuracy at long ranges.
It remains to be seen whether President Trump is bluffing, or if the immense airpower being accumulated at Diego Garcia truly serves a more sinister purpose. Only time will tell, but Iran seems to be undeterred and ready to respond.