Iran accelerates missile site reconstruction after recent conflict with Israel

Iran has initiated the reconstruction of missile-production facilities that were damaged during a 12-day conflict with Israel in June. Satellite imagery analyzed by The Associated Press shows significant construction activity at the Parchin and Shahroud sites located just outside Tehran, which are crucial for Iran's missile production capabilities. The United Nations is expected to reimpose sanctions on Iran later this month, which would affect the development of the missile program, making the reconstitution efforts all the more urgent for Tehran. During the conflict, Iran launched a substantial number of ballistic missiles at Israel, underlining the importance of these missile production capabilities to the Islamic Republic’s military strategy. Analysts suggest that the manufacturing mixers crucial for producing solid fuel for the missiles are still missing from Iran’s facilities, as their absence has previously been identified as a bottleneck in production. These mixers are essential for achieving high-volume production rates and are believed to be sought from external sources, potentially including China. Concerns have also been raised regarding the chemicals needed for solid fuel production, especially in light of a catastrophic explosion in April that killed more than 70 people at a port in Iran. This incident occurred while Iranian diplomats were engaged in talks with American officials regarding Iran's nuclear program in Oman, hinting at a troubled domestic situation exacerbating international diplomatic relations. The potential involvement of China as a supplier of essential components could influence the geopolitical landscape, particularly concerning relations between Iran, China, and the West. The rapid pace of missile program reconstruction reflects Tehran's belief that further conflict with Israel is a strong possibility. The outcome of the ongoing international negotiations and the status of sanctions will play a critical role in shaping Iran's military capabilities moving forward. However, without the necessary mixers for solid fuel production, Iran may face limitations in its missile program despite the urgent efforts to rebuild and reinforce its military infrastructure following recent military confrontations.