While President Trump has been focusing on curbing Iran’s uranium enrichment program, the Israelis are much more worried about the Islamic Republic’s ballistic missiles. Iran has between 1,500 and 2,000 missiles still intact after the 12-Day War last June, when about 1,500 were destroyed, and its missile plants have been producing between 50 and 300 new missiles each month. The Israelis know that Iran’s nuclear program was severely damaged in that war, though not, as Trump said, “obliterated,” and will become a threat only in two years or more, but the ballistic missiles Iran possesses are a threat right now. Iran is racing to build more of those missiles, while Israel is racing to shore up its anti-missile defenses. More on both efforts, by Israel and by Iran, can be found here: “Iran Races to Rebuild Missile Arsenal, Israel Tests Upgraded Defenses Amid Fragile US Nuclear Talks,” by Ailin Vilches Arguello, Algemeiner, February 12, 2026:
As the prospect of renewed conflict looms, Iran is scrambling to restore its battered missile capabilities while Israel tests upgraded air defenses and accelerates military preparations for a potential confrontation.
Iran had 25 key sites housing long-range ballistic missile capabilities, 19 of which were struck during last June’s 12-day war, when the US and Israel bombed the regime’s nuclear facilities, according to Israel’s Channel 14.
The outlet’s latest report, drawing on satellite imagery, research by the Alma Institute for Middle Eastern Studies, and confirmations from security officials, reveals that all sites were equipped with underground infrastructure and suffered extensive surface and subterranean damage.
Yet, with the shadow of a new conflict looming, Iran has rushed to restore its shattered defense capabilities, reportedly completing some partial repairs already.
As of last month, the country’s main launch bases — whose surfaces suffered moderate to severe damage — appear to show clear signs of recovery and resumed operational activity.
Israeli officials estimate that the Islamist regime now possesses at least twice the missile arsenal it deployed in past attacks.
However, Iran’s missile launch capacity remains limited by shortages of launchers and rocket fuel, even as it reportedly works to restore these critical components as well….
Washington and Tehran resumed negotiations last Friday in Oman, marking the first direct engagement between US and Iranian officials since nuclear talks collapsed after the 12-day war in June.
With the chances of a deal still uncertain, US President Donald Trump has simultaneously launched a massive military buildup in the Gulf, pressuring the Iranian regime to return to the negotiating table if it wants to prevent a potential conflict.
But Trump has reiterated he really wants to make a “deal,” and will do his damnedest to avoid having to attack Iran. The Israelis are alarmed by his apparent unwillingness to use force against Iran, for they believe there is no other way both to make Iran halt its nuclear program, and more importantly right now, to end its ballistic missile production and to limit the number of ballistic missiles it will keep from its current store.
Yes, the Iranians and the Israelis both know that Iran’s ballistic missile program is right now the most important issue for both. For it will take years for Iran to bring its nuclear program back up to the level it had reached just before the Twelve-Day War. And right now, Iran has 2,000 ballistic missiles ready to be launched at Israel, and the Islamic Republic is currently producing up to 300 more missiles each month. This is Israel’s nightmare: that it has so far been unable to convince Donald Trump, so dead-set on “making deals,” that the ballistic missile threat is an immediate one. Unlike after other meetings they have had in the past, Trump and Netanyahu did not meet with the press. Netanyahu released a laconic statement about his having stated Israel’s security concerns, and Trump said that he “insisted” to Netanyahu that the talks with Iran should continue. Netanyahu left the White House by a back entrance, to avoid having to talk to the press.
The Israelis can only hope that Iran sticks to its maximalist position, refuses to stop enriching uranium, and continues to hold onto the 400 kg. of uranium it has enriched to a level of 60%, one step below weapons-grade of 90%. And should Iran also continue its refusal to discuss the ballistic missile issue or its continued support for its terror group proxies, will Trump finally realize that the Iranians have been stringing him along in order to add to their store of missiles — missiles that threaten not just Israel, but American bases in the region, and Saudi oil facilities, and can even reach Europe? And if he does, not wanting to be played for a fool, will Trump, in a lucid interval, give the order many of us in the Western world are hoping for: bombs away.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
How exactly is Iran racing to build any more ballistic missiles? When their very regime is under a real threat of collapse, while their currency has sunk, and Russia, for one, is no longer interested in supporting this regime. I suspect Russia wants its land bridge to the Indian Ocean to remain in place once a new government comes to power, rather than latch their fortune to an ideology that’s not even theirs
I think the regime would be lucky if those bases don’t fall into the hands of the protestors
Hugh Fitzgerald says
The Israeils say that the iranians have been rebuiding their ballistic missile arsenal at a rate of between 50 and 300 missiles a. month.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Hugh
I think all that activity would have come to a standstill since the start of this year, when the nationwide protests started
MJ Raichyk, PhD says
As for Russia’s preferences, some sources report that Russian, Chinese and Iranian naval forces are gathering in Iranian waters for JOINT EXERCISES…
What’s the point of that piece and how is it fundable?
Who is taking care of that?
ttyl
Walter Sieruk says
It’s an actural conflict between the good guys and the bad guys .
First , about the bad guys, who are those agressive and hostile Muslim despots who hasten their stooges to construct more ballistic missile so they can launch them into the State of Israel to murder more Jewish citizen of thta nation
About the good guys who are rushin to install more ballistic missile defences to save more human lives from a very possible near future missile attacks from that belligerent and combative Islamic regime of Iran.
This is literally the defencive good ,Israel verse the agressive evil , that Islamic tyranny of Iran
Those disturbing situation will continue , repearelly , throughout the many years to come ,unless President Trump is ready to keep his promise to aid the Iranian people overthrow the horrendous tyrannical regime and install legitimate government which respect the basic human rights of the people of Iran and doesn’t have a sinister scheme to destroy Israel.
OLD GUY says
One of the problems with the leadership of Iran, they are like a wounded rhino with not much to lose by charging. They may turn those weapons on their own people in an attempt to maintain control, or go all out against those they hate. Everyone in the neighborhood really needs to be prepared to protect themselves as well countries around the world.
Walter Sieruk says
The authorities in power in the State of Israel do have every right to use military force to protect Israel and her citizens from that aggressive and spite-filled “mullah regime “ of Iran.
For that’s the reasonable thing for the governmental officials to do in order the ensure the safety, life’s and security of the citizens of that Jewish State.
As the fifth President of the United States, James Monroe, wisely, had declared “The right to self-defense never ceases. It is among the most sacred, and alike necessary to nations and to individuals.”
Furthermore, about that belligerent and conferential Islamic tyranny which has the title of “The Islamic Republic of Iran” being.” at total war with the United States, Israel and Europe.
For the aggressive and combative jihad based mindset of those dictators of tyrannical Islamic regime of Iran have not really given up on their evil goal enriching uranium for nuclear weapons. It still supplies deadly weapons to those murderous jihad entities Hamas and Hezbollah.
Therefore it should be made known that if the founder of the current Islamic tyranny, Ayatollah Khomeini would still be alive today ,he would spit on those Westerners who say that “Islam is a non-violent religion.”
If Ayatollah Khomeini had clearly announced that “Those who know nothing about Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war….There are hundreds psalms and hadiths urging of Muslims to value war and to fight. …I spit upon those foolish souls who make such a claim.” [1] So if he was alive today who would spit on those Westerners who say that “Islam is a non-violent religion.” [1]
There are also many places in the Qu ‘ran that instruct in violence and killing for the cause of Islam.
As found in ,for example Surah 2:191. 4:89.. 5:33. 9:5, 111,112 ,123. 47:4.
[1] THE ISLAM IN ISLAMIC TERRORISM by Ibn Warraq page 339.