Iran tests missiles amid concerns over programme expansion

LONDON –

Iran carried out missile drills across several cities on Monday, state media reported, in what would be the second such exercise in a month, heightening regional tensions amid concerns in Israel and the United States over Tehran’s ballistic missile programme.

The semi-official Nournews and Iran’s public broadcaster Telegram channels published videos showing what appeared to be missile launches, citing Tehran, Isfahan and Mashhad as launch sites.

However, later on Monday, state media quoted “informed sources” denying that missiles had been tested, claiming the images showed “high-altitude aircraft,” without clarifying the conflicting reports.

Iran insisted the programme was purely defensive.

“Iran’s missile programme was developed to defend Iran’s territory, not for negotiation,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a weekly news conference.

“Therefore, Iran’s defence capabilities, designed to deter aggressors from any thought of attacking Iran, are not a matter that could be talked about.”

The drills follow a two-day exercise earlier this month by Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards navy, which fired ballistic and cruise missiles at simulated targets in the Gulf.

Israel regards Iran’s ballistic missiles, alongside its nuclear programme, as the primary threats it aims to neutralise.

During the unprecedented 12-day war in June, Tehran responded to Israeli strikes with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israeli cities. The conflict killed more than 1,000 people in Iran and 28 in Israel, which reported more than 50 Iranian missile strikes within its territory.

NBC News reported that Israeli officials are increasingly concerned Iran is rebuilding and expanding its missile production following the war.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to brief US President Donald Trump later this month on options for the United States to join or assist in any new military operations against Iran, according to unnamed sources cited by NBC.

Israeli officials are also worried that Iran is reconstituting nuclear enrichment sites struck by US forces in June.

Western powers view Iran’s ballistic arsenal both as a conventional military threat to regional stability and as a potential delivery system for nuclear weapons if Tehran were to develop them. Iran denies any intent to build atomic bombs.

“Iran’s missile programme was developed to defend Iran’s territory, not for negotiation,” Baqaei reiterated, underlining Tehran’s insistence that its capabilities are non-negotiable.

Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran has largely developed its domestic arms industry, having lost access to US-supplied weaponry, making self-reliance central to its military strategy.

The unfolding developments underscore the fragile security environment in the Middle East, with potential new confrontations looming as Israel weighs pre-emptive action and the United States considers its role in any escalation.