Tehran assembling liquid-propelled and solid-fuel missiles at multiple secret facilities, per US and Middle East officials.
Published
Iran has resumed ballistic missile production, assembling the weapons at underground sites across the country, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing US and Middle East officials. The officials said intelligence indicates Iran has been producing liquid-propelled missiles using stockpiled components, alongside solid-propellant missiles, at several secret facilities.
The report emerges amid intensifying international pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors voted this week to refer Iran to the UN Security Council over its nuclear non-compliance, marking a significant escalation in diplomatic efforts to curb Tehran's atomic activities.
Russia and China on Thursday opposed a Security Council push for the full resumption of the committee overseeing Iran sanctions, urging Tehran to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Their opposition complicates Western efforts to increase pressure on Iran through multilateral channels.
The US meanwhile announced new sanctions targeting networks that aid Iran's proxies in the Middle East, part of an escalating pressure campaign that coincides with the revelations about missile production. The simultaneous diplomatic and economic actions reflect mounting concern about Iran's advancing weapons capabilities.
Sources: 1.