Quick Summary: Iran International reports the IRGC has accelerated work on chemical and biological missile warheads and is upgrading command-and-control systems, citing unnamed sources. The report arrives as Netanyahu meets President Trump and as Iran faces mounting economic protests. Official figures show the rial at record lows and year-on-year inflation at 52.6% in December. Claims in the report remain unverified.
Report: Iran Said To Accelerate Work On Chemical, Biological Missile Warheads Amid Widespread Economic Protests
A military truck carries a missile past a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during an annual military parade.
Summary: Iran International reports that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has stepped up efforts to develop chemical and biological warheads for ballistic missiles while upgrading command-and-control systems. The report cites unnamed military and security sources and comes as Iran faces growing domestic economic unrest and as Israeli and U.S. leaders discuss regional security.
What Iran International Reports
According to an exclusive Iran International report citing unnamed military and security sources, the IRGC has accelerated work on unconventional missile payloads, including alleged chemical and biological warheads, alongside upgrades to missile command-and-control networks. The outlet also says parts of Iran’s missile infrastructure have been repositioned and expanded, with some launch assets reportedly moved to eastern provinces to reduce vulnerability.
International And Regional Implications
Iranian missiles exhibited in a park on Jan. 20, 2024 in Tehran, Iran. Iran has been a key player in several overlapping regional conflicts, with its recent airstrikes in Iraq, Syria and Pakistan, and its support of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthi movement in Yemen.
If confirmed, these developments would raise serious concerns in Washington and Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. President Donald Trump as Iran’s missile program and other regional security threats were expected to be prominent on the agenda. Officials are also reported to discuss the war in Gaza and postwar frameworks and ceasefire-related steps.
Domestic Context: Economic Protests And Public Anger
The missile report coincides with an escalation of economic unrest inside Iran. Iran International reported that shopkeepers in Tehran closed major markets for a second consecutive day to protest soaring inflation and the collapse of the national currency. Videos circulated online show large crowds marching in Tehran and chanting slogans against the regime.
Maryam Rajavi, NCRI President-Elect: "These protests reflect public anger over rising prices, rampant inflation and political repression."
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an opposition group, said strikes spread across several commercial districts, including the Gold Bazaar. The NCRI also claimed IRGC-linked security forces were on heightened alert; those claims have not been independently verified.
People light a fire during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republic's "morality police", in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 21, 2022.
Economic Indicators
Official data cited in reports show the Iranian rial has fallen to a fresh record low against the U.S. dollar. Year-on-year inflation reached 52.6% in December, while average annual inflation was reported at 42.2%. Observers note that merchants have traditionally been a key base of public support, so strikes in commercial districts are a notable sign of domestic pressure.
Verification And Caveats
Tehran has long denied pursuing chemical or biological weapons and says its missile program is defensive. Iran is a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Western governments have repeatedly accused Iran of breaching international norms, but the specific claims of chemical or biological warhead development in this report are based on unnamed sources and have not been independently confirmed.
Bottom Line: The Iran International report, if corroborated, would mark a significant escalation in Iran's weapons-development profile at a time of heightened domestic unrest and international scrutiny. Independent verification is required to confirm the most explosive elements of the story.
