Multiple Middle East defense observers have reported that during a visit to a military base in central Iran on Tuesday, the commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces, Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari, revealed plans to establish five new missile bases. According to Heydari, this is part of a structured and integrated plan aimed at strengthening the ground forces’ organization and improving their operational readiness.
Iranian Artesh Ground Forces Commander Brigadier General Kiomars Heydari inspected the 840th Missile Group in Aran and Bidgol, Esfahan Province, on June 3, to evaluate the base’s combat and defense capabilities. Iranian media published footage in October 2024 of missiles crossing over Aran and Bigdol during the October 2024 Iranian missile attack on Israel. Heydari stated during his visit to the 840th Missile Group that the Artesh plans to build five new missile bases within its structure.
According to a report by the Tasnim News Agency, Heydari noted that the new bases are already in advanced stages of organization and will be incorporated into the existing command structure of the ground forces. He stated that the ground forces are currently prepared to deliver a "crushing" response to any threat — at any location, stage, or time — as part of Iran’s multidimensional defense strategy.
The Tasnim News Agency, which claims to be a private news agency in Iran but is reported to be close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was launched in 2012.
Heydari's announcement is the latest in a series of defense-related statements recently released in Iran, centered on enhancing the Islamic Republic's deterrence capabilities. Just last month, Iran unveiled a new domestically-produced ballistic missile called “Qassem Basyar,” which uses solid fuel and has a range of 1,200 kilometers. The new missile is equipped with an advanced navigation system that enables precise targeting, even under electronic warfare conditions.
These announcements come against the backdrop of growing regional tensions and Western concerns about Tehran’s ongoing military development. Iran’s public boasts about its technological advancements — particularly in the ballistic missile domain — are seen as a challenge to the deterrence strategies of Western countries and their regional allies.
Experts believe that the establishment of the new missile bases will provide Iran with broader deployment of launch capabilities across the country and greater operational flexibility in the event of conflict. However, no specific details have been released regarding the locations of the bases or the equipment to be installed, maintaining ambiguity around Iran’s precise capabilities in this area.
Heydari also highlighted the Army Ground Force’s preparedness to give a crushing response to any threat at any level, location and time.
Last month, the Iranian military forces unveiled a new homegrown ballistic missile with the ability to penetrate the air defense systems. “Qassem Baseer”, which runs on solid fuel and has a range of 1,200 kilometers, has been equipped with an advanced navigation system that allows it to hit targets precisely and counter electronic warfare.
Respected defense analyst Behnam Ben Taleblu said that Tehran’s “arsenal of short- to medium-range solid fuel systems are being increasingly upgraded to produce a more lethal, survivable, and battlefield ready projectile.”
Ben Taleblu, a senior follow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Breaking Defense that the emphasis on maneuverability of the new ballistic missile, “which can’t reach Israel from Iranian territory, but can reach all U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf region, represents attempts to bypass or limit the effectiveness of existing American and allied missile defense systems which have a strong track record against Iranian projectiles.” (Israel sits about 1,000 km from the western-most portions of Iran, stretching the Islamic Republic’s range.)
The Capitol Switchboard is (202-224-3121), call today and tell your Senators and Representative that under no circumstances should they support any agreement between the United States and Iran that does not include the verified complete top to bottom dismantling of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
- Trump foreign policy
- Iran policy
- Israel
- Iran nuclear weapons
- Five new missile bases
- Steve Witkoff
- Tasnim News Agency
- Qassem Basyar missile
- Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari
- Dismantle nuclear program
- Obama Iran nuclear deal
- Full dismantlement
- Iranian enrichment
- JCPOA
