Iran Rebuilds Missile Factories: Israeli Warning and U.S. Concerns Intensify

Israeli officials stated they are closely monitoring Iran’s efforts to rebuild missile production sites destroyed by Israeli strikes in June and would respond if new threats emerge.

Satellite imagery from Planet Labs revealed that Iran is reconstructing facilities previously targeted by Israel. Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, confirmed this activity after reviewing the images.

At a graduation ceremony for Israeli Air Force pilots on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that Israel was watching Iran and its terrorist proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah, as they rearm and would respond if necessary. Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel would take steps to prevent emerging threats.

“We are not looking for confrontations, but our eyes are open to any possible danger,” Netanyahu said during the event.

Netanyahu is scheduled to travel to the United States for a year-end meeting with President Donald Trump, where discussions on Iran’s ballistic missile activity and potential next steps are expected. Israeli officials indicated that their assessment of Iran’s capabilities would be part of the talks.

U.S. officials have privately expressed concerns about Israel’s willingness to use force in response to Iranian actions. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated: “As President Trump has said, if Iran pursued a nuclear weapon, that site would be attacked and would be wiped out before they even got close.”

Any Israeli attack on Iranian missile facilities would likely require tacit U.S. approval, as Israel would need American assistance to defend against potential retaliatory strikes.

Israel has previously warned Iran that efforts to rebuild its nuclear or missile capabilities would trigger further action. Analysts reported that Iran is moving to restore missile manufacturing while proceeding more cautiously with its nuclear program.

Earlier this month, a U.S. special operations team seized military-related goods bound for Iran during an operation in the Indian Ocean. The Treasury Department also sanctioned 32 individuals and entities across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia for supporting Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs.