Iran: US Won't Know Our Missile Abilities – Until It's Too Late

JERUSALEM, Israel -- Iran says it will continue its missile program on the pretext of being able to defend itself.

But other countries contend the missiles are part of Iran's goal to become a Middle East superpower that would threaten Israel, the United States, and its other enemies.

Iran's missile program is one of the most ambitious in the world. Its arsenal ranges from long-range ballistic missiles, which would reach Europe, and shorter-range missiles already used by regional terror groups against Israel and Saudi Arabia.

"Officially, the claim is …the missile industry is for defense purposes only. As for the long-range missiles, it's obviously not [a] defensive tool," Iranian expert Ayelet Savyon, with the Jerusalem-headquartered Middle East Media Research Institute, told CBN News.

The United States and five world powers lifted most international sanctions as part of the nuclear deal with Iran.

The U.N. Security Council still called for work to stop on ballistic missiles that can deliver nuclear payloads. Iran never complied and now argues that its missile program has nothing to do with the nuclear deal.

In addition, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ordered an expansion of the country's missile program.

Meanwhile, Commander Ali Hajizadeh says Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps will get two new advanced missiles when the Persian New Year begins in March. According to Hajizadeh, both missiles will have a range of more than 1,000 miles.

Savyon says from time to time, Iranian officials speak openly about their missile program.

"They kept saying the main purpose of their long-range missile was hitting -- targeting Israel," she explained.

Even with the nuclear deal in place, Iranian commanders taunt the United States about their missiles and military capability.

"We have land-to-sea missiles with very heavy warheads located in tunnels along the Persian Gulf coastline," IRGC naval Commander Ali Fadavi said. "The Americans themselves once said the IRGC navy forces had dug over a thousand tunnels along the coast of the Persian Gulf."

"When will the Americans learn about the things we haven't shown them?" Fadavi asked. "We will demonstrate this at a certain point in accordance with our interests or when the time is right. At that point the Americans will know [our abilities], but it will be too late for them.

Recently, Iranian television aired images of the tunnels where the missiles are stored, saying they had around 500 of them.

"Almost all Iranian cities have at least one missile base," Hajizadeh said. "What you see is like an iceberg, floating on the water, only part of which is visible. We have so many such bases that even if they manage to identify some of them, it will still be to no avail."

Savyon said admissions about the tunnels has to do with regional tensions.

"I think they said it because of the tension being so…escalating between Iran and Saudi Arabia. They said ,'we have hidden cities of missiles,'" she explained.

And it's not an idle threat.

"Iran also says it's equipped Israel's neighboring Islamic movements, such as Hezbollah and Hamas and whatever Palestinian groups, such as Jihadis -- Islamic Jihad -- with Iranian technology and missiles," Savyon added.

Retired IDF Intelligence officer Michael Segall said Iran is setting its sights high.

"They want to create some kind of balance of power with the United States, with other European place[s]," Segall told CBN News. "If Iran is on its way to become a super power, the missile program is indeed a pillar in the Iranian national security doctrine."