Iran races to rebuild missile sites after Israel strikes, but key components still missing
By isabelle // 2025-09-25
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  • Iran is rapidly rebuilding missile sites destroyed by Israel but lacks key equipment to restore full production capacity.
  • Nuclear sanctions loom as Iran refuses negotiations, leaving missile reconstruction as its only deterrent against further attacks.
  • Israel’s June strikes targeted solid-fuel missile facilities, crippling Iran’s ability to quickly replenish its depleted arsenal.
  • China’s potential supply of industrial mixers could revive Iran’s missile program, escalating tensions with Israel and the West.
  • Without foreign aid, Iran’s missile ambitions remain limited, but its defiance signals a high-risk standoff with global consequences.
Just months after Israel’s devastating 12-day war with Iran, new satellite images reveal Tehran is racing to rebuild its missile production facilities, yet a crucial piece of the puzzle is still missing. The reconstruction at the Parchin and Shahroud sites, which were struck by Israel in June, signals Iran’s determination to restore its military deterrence. But without the massive planetary mixers needed to produce solid missile fuel, experts warn the program remains hobbled as nuclear sanctions loom. The images, analyzed by The Associated Press, show clear signs of rebuilding at both locations. At Parchin, mixing buildings appear to be under repair, while Shahroud shows similar activity. Yet the absence of the industrial mixers essential for blending solid fuel suggests Iran’s missile production capacity is far from fully operational. “If they’re able to reacquire some key things like planetary mixers, then that infrastructure is still there and ready to get rolling again,” said Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.

A race against sanctions

The urgency comes as Iran faces the reimposition of nuclear sanctions next week unless it reaches a deal with European nations. France, Germany, and the UK triggered a “snapback mechanism” in August, giving Tehran a 30-day window to comply that closes on Sunday. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed U.S. and Israeli attacks for sabotaging peace talks, telling the U.N. General Assembly, “You all bore witness that this past June, my country was subjected to a savage aggression and flagrant contravention of the most elementary principles of international law.” Yet Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei flatly rejected negotiations with the U.S., declaring, “The U.S. has announced the results of the talks in advance. The result is the closure of nuclear activities and enrichment. This is not a negotiation.” The standoff leaves Iran with few options beyond rebuilding its missile arsenal, a program Israel has repeatedly targeted to degrade Tehran’s military capabilities.

Israel’s strategic strikes

During the June war, Israel focused its airstrikes on Iran’s solid-fuel missile sites, including Parchin and Shahroud, where the mixers were housed. Solid-fuel missiles, unlike liquid-fueled ones, can be launched rapidly, which is a critical advantage in a conflict where preemptive strikes decide survival. Israel’s military estimated Iran’s prewar missile production at over 200 solid-fuel missiles per month, a pace that drew heavy Israeli fire. “Israel’s targeting indicates that they believed mixing was a bottleneck in Iran’s missile production,” said Carl Parkin, another analyst at the James Martin Center. The numbers underscore the scale of the conflict: Iran fired 574 ballistic missiles at Israel during the war, plus another 330 in earlier exchanges, depleting over a third of its estimated 2,500-missile arsenal. Without the mixers, however, Iran’s ability to replenish those stocks remains limited. The machines, which resemble giant industrial blenders, are likely irreplaceable without foreign assistance—possibly from China, where Iran has sourced missile components in the past.

China’s shadow role

Beijing’s potential involvement adds another layer of complexity. The U.S. has previously sanctioned Chinese firms for supplying Iran with missile fuel ingredients, and analysts note that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard may have already acquired a planetary mixer for a Syrian missile site linked to Tehran. If China steps in to fill the gap, Iran’s missile program could rebound quickly. For now, Iran’s defense minister, Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh, claims the country is prioritizing “military equipment with higher precision and greater operational capabilities.” But without the mixers, those ambitions may remain out of reach. The speed of reconstruction at Parchin and Shahroud proves Iran’s commitment, but the missing components reveal a critical vulnerability, and it's one that Israel may exploit again if tensions flare. The stakes extend beyond missiles. Iran’s nuclear program, which is already under strain from U.S. and Israeli strikes, faces renewed pressure as sanctions snap back. Yet Tehran’s refusal to negotiate suggests it sees missiles, not diplomacy, as its best defense. The question now is whether China will supply the missing pieces or if Israel will strike again to keep Iran’s arsenal in check. Sources for this article include: The-Express.com APNews.com TheCradle.co
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