Iran Accelerates Ballistic Missile Production Following Recent Conflict with Israel

IDF Warns of Accelerated Missile Production

The Islamic Republic of Iran has reportedly resumed large-scale production of ballistic missiles, approximately six months after its 12-day conflict with Israel in June 2025. This development was disclosed by a senior Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) official during a closed briefing to the Knesset, Israel's parliament. According to reports from Israeli news outlets, the official warned that Iran's missile program is 'recovering at a fast pace' and remains a 'top strategic priority' for Tehran's military planners.

Context of the June 2025 Conflict

The acceleration in missile production follows a period of intense hostilities between Iran and Israel in June 2025. During this 12-day conflict, Israel and the United States conducted airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and military infrastructure. These strikes reportedly caused significant damage to Iran's missile manufacturing capacity, including the destruction of 'planetary mixers,' which are key components in missile production. In retaliation, Iran launched its own missile strikes against Israeli targets. The conflict, which saw Iran launch between 500 and 550 ballistic missiles, concluded on June 24, 2025, with a ceasefire agreement.

Resurgence and Capabilities of Iran's Missile Program

Despite the damage sustained, Western diplomats have expressed concerns regarding Iran's efforts to accelerate its missile recovery. Reports indicate that Iran has resorted to using older manufacturing methods to bypass the destruction of key equipment. The IDF official's warning coincides with Iran intensifying its missile and drone testing during recent large-scale military exercises in the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea.

• Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy, recently stated that a new missile tested during these drills possessed a range exceeding the 1,375-kilometer length of the Persian Gulf and demonstrated 'very high precision.'
• Iran's ballistic missile program is recognized as the largest in the Middle East, with declared missile ranges of up to 2,000 kilometers, which Iranian officials assert is sufficient for deterrence and capable of reaching Israel.
• In February 2025, a shipment of 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate, a chemical vital for solid propellant production, arrived in Iran, potentially enabling the production of hundreds of missiles.

The United States and its allies have consistently urged Tehran to limit its missile development to under 500 kilometers, a demand that Iran has repeatedly rejected.

International Scrutiny and Iran's Stance

Iran's ballistic missile program has long been a subject of international scrutiny, particularly due to concerns about its potential connection to nuclear ambitions. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015), which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), 'calls upon' Iran not to undertake activities related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Previous UN resolutions also imposed bans and restrictions on Iran's ballistic missile activities and arms transfers.

Iranian officials have denied that their missile program was crippled by the June strikes. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has also raised concerns about the risk of radiation release at bombed nuclear facilities and suggested that nuclear oversight rules require updating for wartime conditions. Iran maintains its commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) but argues that the political approach of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) complicates cooperation. A military spokesman for Iran dismissed US and Israeli threats as 'delusional,' asserting that the June conflict demonstrated the resilience of Iran's forces.