Islamic Republic Unveils Underground Base Amid Regional Tensions

On Saturday, January 29, 1403 (January 18, 2024), just two days before the start of Donald Trump's second presidential term, the Islamic Republic unveiled an underground naval base in an unspecified location in the Persian Gulf, in front of the cameras of the Islamic Republic's state television. The unveiling of this facility coincided with a military exercise by the Revolutionary Guard aimed at 'strengthening the defense of the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities against potential attacks.' The Islamic Republic claims that 'this base, built 500 meters underground, is equipped with radar-evading Tareq-class speedboats capable of launching cruise missiles.' According to footage broadcast by the Islamic Republic's television, Hossein Salami, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, described this underground base as one of several built 'to support naval operations and long-range missile launches,' asserting that the Islamic Republic's military forces can emerge victorious from 'naval battles against both large and small enemies.' Previously, Iranian officials had unveiled several underground bases and 'missile cities,' claiming their missiles serve as a deterrent and a response to threats from the U.S. and Israel. These actions come amid concerns within the Islamic Republic about increasing sanctions and military pressures from Washington and Tel Aviv. Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States, did not confirm or deny the possibility of a preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities during a press conference on January 18. The head of the Iran section in the European Parliament has called for the Revolutionary Guard to be designated as a terrorist organization, coinciding with increased praise for Mohammad Reza Shah for building the Azadi Stadium. Discussions with Jason Braddock about the proposed '100-day plan' to the Trump administration included an attack on Revolutionary Guard positions in Iran. The victims' association of flight PS752 stated that the Iranian government is evading accountability. A European Parliament representative called for action against human rights violations in Iran. The Iran Human Rights Campaign urged the Swedish government to act to save Ahmadreza Jalali's life. Families of the victims of the Ukrainian flight announced they would file criminal and legal cases. Braddock mentioned the proposal for a direct attack on Revolutionary Guard positions in the '100-day plan.'