The Commander of the Aerospace Forces of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Majid Mousavi, announced on Sunday that the pace of re-equipping missile launchers during the ceasefire period has become faster than it was before the start of the war, indicating an increase in Iranian military preparedness despite the truce in effect.
“Nornews” quoted Mousavi as saying that the rearmament process is taking place at an increasing pace, coinciding with the publication of a video in which he appears inspecting an underground missile facility, the location of which has not been revealed. The video showed footage of drones, missiles, and launchers inside the facility, in addition to ground-based missile launchers.
This statement comes at a time when the two-week truce that began on April 9 is approaching its end, and is scheduled to end on April 22, amid anticipation of the fate of the talks between Tehran and Washington.
The American-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28, and targeting Iranian missile capabilities was one of the declared goals of this war, according to American and Israeli officials.
On the other hand, US President Donald Trump threatened to resume the military option if the negotiations failed, saying: “If we do not reach an agreement with Iran, the fighting will resume.” He added that he may extend the ceasefire if necessary, indicating that this may not be necessary if an agreement is reached.
For its part, Iran announced that it had received new proposals from the United States, while Pakistani mediators are working to arrange a new round of direct negotiations. Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the recent talks had made progress, while Trump described contacts with Tehran as “very good.”
However, neither party revealed the details of the proposals presented, while Ghalibaf pointed out the continuing differences over the nuclear file and the Strait of Hormuz, which are the two main points of contention in the current negotiations.
Mousavi’s statements come in an escalating context that combines military preparedness and political negotiations, with the end of the truce approaching. While Washington seeks an agreement that restricts the Iranian nuclear program and limits its missile capabilities, Tehran insists on its right to develop its program within what it considers “sovereign rights.”
The Strait of Hormuz also constitutes a major pressure point in this equation, given its strategic importance in the global energy movement, making it a sensitive bargaining chip in any potential agreement.
Between the threat of escalation and the threat of extending the ceasefire, the coming days appear decisive in determining whether the truce will turn into a permanent settlement path, or merely a temporary phase that precedes a new round of conflict.
