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Iran military preparations have reportedly intensified during a period of relative calm following a June memorandum of understanding with the United States, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) preparing for the possibility of a wider confrontation, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing Iranian and Arab officials.
The reported Iran military preparations include accelerated missile production, efforts to improve missile accuracy, expanded drone manufacturing, increased counterintelligence activity and a larger role for the powerful Revolutionary Guard within Iran’s military structure.
The developments suggest that Tehran’s security establishment has been preparing for multiple potential scenarios even while diplomatic efforts have continued. The WSJ report said Iranian hard-line leaders interpreted the period following the June agreement differently from Washington and used the time to strengthen military capabilities and coordinate with regional allies.
7 Key Signs of Iran Military Preparations
1. Missile Production Has Been Accelerated
A major element of the reported Iran military preparations is the expansion of missile production.
IRGC spokesman Brig Gen Hossein Mohebbi said in July that Iran had used the ceasefire period to increase its defence capabilities, accelerate missile production and improve missile accuracy. Iranian state-linked Tasnim News Agency also reported similar remarks from Mohebbi in July.
The WSJ report cited the same remarks as evidence that Tehran viewed the period of reduced hostilities as an opportunity to improve its military readiness.
Improved accuracy and increased production capacity could potentially strengthen Iran’s ability to respond to or initiate attacks in a future escalation.
2. Drone Manufacturing Has Expanded
The reported Iran military preparations also include increased production of drones.
Drones have become an important component of modern warfare, providing military forces with relatively flexible options for surveillance, targeting and attacks.
According to the WSJ report, Iran’s security establishment used the period of relative calm to ramp up both missile and drone manufacturing.
The reported expansion is significant because Iran has previously developed extensive drone capabilities and has supported allied armed groups across the Middle East with military technology and expertise.
3. IRGC Influence Over the Regular Military Has Grown
Another important development concerns the internal structure of Iran’s armed forces.
According to the WSJ report, Iran’s leadership has given the IRGC greater oversight over the country’s regular army. The move forms part of a wider restructuring of Iran’s military and security apparatus under Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Recent reporting has also described the appointment of experienced IRGC figures to senior military and security positions, reflecting a broader shift towards strengthening the Revolutionary Guard’s influence.
The development could give the IRGC greater influence over military planning and operational decision-making.
4. Counterintelligence Operations Have Expanded
The reported Iran military preparations extend beyond missiles and drones.
Iran’s leadership has also expanded domestic counterintelligence operations amid concerns about espionage, internal unrest and foreign influence.
The WSJ reported that Iranian authorities increased counterintelligence activity during the period of relative calm. The move reportedly reflects concerns that economic difficulties and continued pressure from the United States could contribute to renewed domestic instability.
The strengthening of internal security capabilities therefore appears to be taking place alongside preparations for potential external conflict.
5. Regional Militias Have Been Brought Into Planning
The IRGC has reportedly used the period of reduced fighting to coordinate strategy with allied militias across the region.
According to officials cited by the WSJ, Iranian commanders were sent to Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon to discuss possible operational plans with allied groups.
This regional network has long been an important part of Iran’s security strategy. Coordination with armed groups could potentially allow Tehran to respond to developments through multiple theatres rather than relying solely on its conventional military forces.
The reported Iran military preparations therefore have a regional dimension extending beyond Iran’s borders.
6. Missile and Drone Launchers Have Been Deployed
The WSJ report also said the Revolutionary Guard supervised deployments of missiles, naval weapons and drone launchers in positions overlooking the Red Sea.
The report further alleged that Iran provided Yemeni militants with intelligence and targeting information focused on Saudi ports and energy facilities.
These allegations are significant because attacks on energy infrastructure and maritime routes could have consequences extending well beyond the immediate region.
The reported deployments illustrate how Iran’s military preparations could potentially involve maritime routes and strategic infrastructure across the wider Middle East.
7. Plans for Wider Military Escalation Have Been Prepared
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the reported Iran military preparations is the development of options for possible escalation.
According to the WSJ report, Iranian officials and public statements indicate that the IRGC has considered options including pre-emptive strikes, attacks on undersea internet cables in the Persian Gulf, attempts to generate political unrest in Gulf states and possible ground operations.
The report said some Iranian political figures have also discussed the possibility of ground raids through southern Iraq if the United States threatened strategically important Iranian territory such as Kharg Island.
These reported options point to preparations for a conflict that could extend beyond conventional missile exchanges.
Why the June Understanding Became a Turning Point
Washington had expected the June memorandum of understanding to help reduce hostilities and create conditions for negotiations.
According to the WSJ report, the agreement was intended to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin a broader wind-down of the conflict.
Iran’s hard-line leadership reportedly viewed the agreement differently. Officials cited by the newspaper said Tehran suspected the arrangement could give the United States and Israel time to reduce economic pressure while preparing for another major offensive.
Iran consequently used the period to strengthen military capabilities and reorganise its security structure.
These developments have become an important part of the wider Iran military preparations, particularly as Tehran seeks to improve its ability to respond to potential future attacks.
Ahmad Vahidi Given Greater Military Responsibility
The reported Iran military preparations have coincided with significant changes in the country’s military leadership.
Ahmad Vahidi has been formally installed as commander-in-chief of the IRGC. According to the WSJ report, his appointment decree instructed him to carry out “powerful offensive operations against the enemy.”
The following day, Gen Mohammad Reza Naghdi, an adviser to Vahidi, said the Revolutionary Guard needed to remain prepared to conduct operations in enemy territory.
Other recent reporting has similarly described Vahidi’s appointment as part of a broader restructuring of Iran’s military command and a move towards greater emphasis on offensive capability.
Iran Strengthens Internal Security Measures
The military preparations are taking place alongside intensified domestic security measures.
Iran’s leadership is reportedly concerned that economic deterioration, international pressure and continued instability could contribute to renewed protests or unrest.
The WSJ report said the country’s security apparatus has therefore expanded counterintelligence operations while experienced security officials have been placed in senior positions.
This combination of external military planning and internal security measures indicates that Tehran is preparing for both foreign confrontation and potential domestic instability.
The developments form another important component of the broader Iran military preparations described by officials cited in the report.
Potential Risks for Gulf Countries
The reported military planning has raised concerns among Gulf states, particularly countries that host US military installations.
Kuwait has previously taken reported infiltration concerns seriously. According to the WSJ report, Kuwaiti security forces said in May that they had intercepted six IRGC personnel who allegedly used a rented fishing vessel to reach a Kuwaiti island.
The possibility of attacks involving Gulf states is particularly sensitive because several countries in the region host US military facilities and play important roles in global energy markets.
Any major escalation could therefore affect shipping, energy infrastructure and regional security.
Strait of Hormuz Remains a Major Flashpoint
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most strategically important waterways in the region.
Any disruption to shipping through the strait could have major consequences for international energy markets because a substantial portion of global oil and gas shipments passes through the waterway.
The June understanding had been expected to support efforts to reopen the strait and reduce tensions. However, the reported continuation of Iran military preparations suggests that the waterway remains central to the wider security confrontation.
The combination of naval weapons, missiles and drones creates additional risks for commercial shipping and military forces operating in and around the Persian Gulf.
What the Reported Preparations Mean for the Region
The reported Iran military preparations do not necessarily mean that Tehran has decided to launch a wider conflict.
Rather, the information cited by the WSJ indicates that Iranian authorities are developing options and increasing readiness in case hostilities expand.
This distinction is important because military preparation can serve both offensive and deterrent purposes. Iran’s leadership may view stronger capabilities as a way to discourage attacks while simultaneously preparing for potential escalation.
Nevertheless, the reported development of pre-emptive strike plans and possible operations outside Iran increases concerns about miscalculation and further regional instability.
Diplomatic Efforts Face a Difficult Test
The military developments could complicate future diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.
The June memorandum was intended to provide a framework for reducing hostilities and beginning further negotiations. However, if both sides continue preparing for renewed conflict, rebuilding trust could become increasingly difficult.
Iran’s reported preparations may also influence the calculations of the United States, Israel and Gulf countries.
For diplomacy to succeed, both sides would likely need stronger assurances that negotiations will not be used simply to gain time for military preparations.
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