The confrontation of the nuclear agreement with Iran
Fox News correspondent Amy Kellogg interviews a former State Department official and adviser to Iran’s nuclear negotiating team on the latest news surrounding the JCPOA.
Iran officially unveiled on Tuesday the first underground airbase of its kind dubbed “Eagle 44”, capable of housing fighter jets and long-range cruise missiles, Iranian news outlet IRNA first reported.
The opening ceremony was reportedly attended by Iran’s top military commanders, including Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri and Army Commander Major General Abrolrahim Mousavi.
Iranian officials not only made the case for how the airbase will allow their military to better carry out the various operations, but also took an aggressive tone when it came to their main adversary, Israel.
Iran’s Army Chief Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi and Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri visit the first underground air force base, dubbed “Eagle 44” at an undisclosed location in Iran, in this printout image obtained on February 7, 2023. . (Iranian Army/West Asia News Agency/Handout via REUTERS)
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“Any attack on Iran by our enemies, including Israel, will see a response from our many air force bases, including Eagle 44,” Bagheri told state television, Reuters reported.
The comments come as tension between Iran and Israel continues to escalate, particularly following the election of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has vowed to be tough on Iran since the election campaign.
Although an Iranian defense expert told Fox News Digital that the latest base revealed “represents the continuation of a trend that we have seen in the Islamic Republic’s security policy for quite some time.”
“The regime understands that long-range attack assets, particularly drones and missiles, are its most important deterrent weapon,” explained Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “He understands the threat these weapons pose to Iran’s neighbors.”
Israel and Iran have long been engaged in a proxy war in Syria and covert operations across the Middle East, a shadow war that Jerusalem has dubbed “the war between wars.”
A fighter jet is seen at the first underground air force base, called “Eagle 44” at an undisclosed location in Iran, in this printout image obtained on February 7, 2023. (Iranian Army/West Asia News Agency/Handout via REUTERS)
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Just weeks into the new administration, Iran accused Israel of attacking a military factory with a drone strike, though it provided no evidence to back up its claims. Israel has not commented on the attack.
Tehran has also relied on hyperbole and the potential risk its defense space poses as Iran continues to develop its nuclear capabilities and expand its missile reserves.
Iran has previously revealed similar underground bases used to house missiles and drones, as well as their ability to launch ballistic missiles from underground.
Ben Taleblu said Tehran “understands that without toughening them up, dispersing them and making them more of a survivable force, it will not be able to maintain these weapons.”
Iran’s Army Chief Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi and Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri visit the first underground air force base, dubbed “Eagle 44” at an undisclosed location in Iran, in this printout image obtained on February 7, 2023. . (Iranian Army/West Asia News Agency/Handout via REUTERS)
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Iran’s latest underground base also points to Tehran’s shifting strategy towards defense following the collapse of the nuclear weapons deal after the US.
“The regime is looking to acquire some more advanced conventional systems and this base could be creating the space for that,” explained Ben Taleblu.
