IRGC Defies Netanyahu: ‘We Are Building Missiles Even in War Conditions’

Iranian military spokesman gives Tehran’s missile program a “perfect score” of 20, directly challenging Israeli prime minister’s claims

TEHRAN — Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) has pushed back forcefully against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion that Tehran can no longer produce ballistic missiles, declaring that missile production continues unabated — even amid active war conditions.

General Ali Mohammad Naeini, the IRGC’s spokesperson, made the remarks in comments quoted Friday by Iran’s state-run IRAN newspaper. The general’s statement directly challenges a key pillar of Israeli military strategy: the notion that Iran’s missile capabilities have been crippled by ongoing strikes and sabotage.

“Our missile industry score is 20 and there is no concern in this regard,” Naeini said, referring to Iran’s grading system in which 20 represents a perfect score. “We are producing missiles even during war conditions, which is amazing, and there is no particular problem in stockpiling.”

Direct Challenge to Netanyahu

The IRGC spokesperson’s comments came less than 24 hours after Netanyahu held a press conference in Jerusalem in which he painted a dramatically different picture of the conflict’s trajectory.

“We are winning, and Iran is being decimated,” Netanyahu told reporters Thursday. The Israeli leader claimed that Iran no longer has the capacity to manufacture ballistic missiles — a statement that, if true, would represent a significant strategic victory for Israel’s ongoing military campaign.

The IRGC’s swift response suggests that Tehran views the issue of its missile capabilities as both a strategic reality and a crucial element of domestic morale and regional deterrence.

‘This War Must End When the Shadow of War Is Lifted’

General Naeini did not limit his remarks to Iran’s missile production capabilities. He also offered insight into how Tehran views the trajectory of the current conflict, which has drawn in multiple regional powers and sparked concerns of a wider war.

“These people expect the war to continue until the enemy is completely exhausted,” the general said, referring to the Iranian public’s stance. He added a condition for ending the conflict: “This war must end when the shadow of war is lifted from the country.”

The statement reflects a duality in Tehran’s current posture: a willingness to endure prolonged conflict while also signaling that Iran seeks an end to hostilities once its security is assured.

The Missile Program: A Point of Contention

Iran’s ballistic missile program has long been a central point of tension between Tehran and Western powers, particularly Israel and the United States. Despite years of sanctions, targeted assassinations of key military figures, and repeated airstrikes attributed to Israel, the IRGC maintains that its missile production infrastructure remains intact and operational.

The program includes a range of short-range, medium-range, and ballistic missiles capable of striking targets across the region, including Israel. Military analysts estimate that Iran possesses one of the largest missile arsenals in the Middle East.

Naeini’s use of the Iranian school grading system — describing the program’s status as a “perfect score” of 20 — appears designed to reassure both domestic audiences and regional allies that Tehran’s military capabilities remain undiminished.

Context: Escalating Conflict

The exchange between Netanyahu and the IRGC comes amid a sharp escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran. In recent weeks:

· Israeli airstrikes have targeted Iranian military facilities and missile production sites.
· Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against Israeli positions, including drone and missile attacks.
· Gulf states have reported attacks on their territory attributed to Iranian aggression.
· Global energy markets have been disrupted following strikes on key infrastructure, including Qatar’s Ras Laffan energy complex.

The conflict has drawn in the United States, with former President Donald Trump reportedly requesting that Israel “hold off” on attacks on Iranian gas fields — a request Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has said he agreed to.

Iranian Public Mood

General Naeini’s characterization of public sentiment — that Iranians expect the war to continue until the enemy is exhausted — comes at a complex moment for Iranian society. The country is currently marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year, and Eid al-Fitr, a dual festival typically characterized by celebration and public gatherings.

This year, however, the atmosphere in Tehran has been described as muted and mournful. Authorities have discouraged public gatherings over security concerns, and Iranians on both sides of the political spectrum are grieving significant casualties:

· Opposition figures mourn thousands reportedly killed in January.
· Government supporters mourn an estimated 1,500 killed in the past 20 days, along with several high-ranking commanders and political figures who have been assassinated.

The IRGC’s confident messaging on missile production may be aimed, in part, at bolstering national morale during a period of grief and uncertainty.

As General Naeini made clear, Tehran sees no end to the conflict until the “shadow of war” is lifted. With both sides showing no signs of backing down, and with regional powers increasingly drawn into the fighting, the coming weeks are likely to determine whether the current escalation stabilizes or spirals further.

Additional reporting by state-run IRAN newspaper. Adapted for The Azadi Times.