Iran Restores 90% of Underground Missile Sites, Preserving Access to 1,000 Missiles
Updated
Updated · The Jerusalem Post · May 31
Iran Restores 90% of Underground Missile Sites, Preserving Access to 1,000 Missiles
13 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · May 31
U.S. military agencies now assess that 90% of Iran’s underground missile facilities are at least partially operational after strikes by the U.S. and Israel.
Bulldozers and dump trucks cleared collapsed roads and tunnel entrances, letting Iran regain access to most sites faster than U.S. officials expected.
Experts told CNN the strikes likely left about 1,000 missiles stored underground intact, because ground-level bombing is hard to translate into deep underground damage.
Iran can also launch missiles from non-operational sites with mobile launchers, and it still retains roughly 70% of that launcher fleet.
The recovery underscores how Iran’s missile network—built over two decades—can absorb costly attacks and resume firing with relatively low-tech repairs.
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Iran’s Missile Arsenal Rebounds: How Tehran Restored 1,000+ Missiles and Undermined U.S.-Israeli Airstrikes by May 2026
Overview
By May 2026, Iran had swiftly reopened its missile tunnels and restored key capabilities, surprising international intelligence agencies with the speed of its recovery. U.S. intelligence confirmed that Iran resumed both drone production and the rebuilding of missile launchers, moving faster than expected. This rapid resurgence exposed the limits of the U.S. and Israeli airstrike strategy, which had targeted Iran’s bases and supply chain in hopes of neutralizing its missile force. The report highlights how Iran’s resilient infrastructure and strategic planning allowed it to quickly overcome tactical setbacks, challenging assumptions about the effectiveness of military strikes alone.