CNN: Most of Iran’s Underground Missile Bases Restored

50 Out of 69 Missile Tunnel Entrances Reopened

A significant number of Iran’s underground missile bases that were targeted in intensive airstrikes by the United States and Israel have reportedly been restored. Analysts say that efforts to neutralize Iran’s missile capabilities—the key objective during the war—produced more limited results than initially expected.

On May 30 (local time), U.S. broadcaster CNN reported after analyzing satellite images that 50 out of 69 entrances to Iran’s underground missile facility tunnels, which had been blocked by airstrikes, have been reopened.

During the war, the United States and Israel concentrated their attacks on roads and tunnel entrances leading to Iran’s underground bases in an effort to weaken Iran’s long-range missile operations. Their strategy focused on burying tunnel entrances to hinder the movement and launching of missiles. However, after the ceasefire, Iran deployed heavy equipment to carry out restoration work, and it is now believed that a considerable number of these facilities have returned to operational status.

According to the satellite images released by CNN, at one missile base in Dezful in southwestern Iran, four out of five entrances leading to underground facilities have been restored. Tunnel entrances that had been buried near bases in Isfahan and Khomein have also been reopened, and most of the access roads damaged by airstrikes appear to have been repaired.

Experts point out that this case highlights the structural limitations of airstrikes targeting underground military facilities.

Sam Lair, a researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, told CNN, "Iran still retains a substantial stockpile of missiles," adding, "As long as they have access to launchers and operating personnel, they could continue missile operations for an extended period, even if their production facilities are damaged."

U.S. President Donald Trump identified the elimination of Iran’s missile forces, alongside its nuclear facilities, as a primary goal during the war. The United States and Israel conducted extensive attacks not only on underground bases but also on missile production facilities and associated supply chains.

Nevertheless, experts estimate that Iran currently stores about 1,000 missiles in underground facilities. U.S. intelligence agencies have also reportedly assessed that Iran has resumed drone production and is in the process of restoring both missile launchers and production capacity.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.