Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said it is continuing to produce missiles despite ongoing attacks by Israel and the United States, as fighting across the Middle East intensified on Friday.
General Ali Mohammad Naeini, a spokesman for the force, said Tehran’s missile capabilities remained intact, rejecting claims by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that they had been significantly degraded.
“Our missile industry score is 20,” he said, according to Iranian state media, adding that production was continuing even under wartime conditions.
Iranian state television later reported that Naeini had been killed in an airstrike shortly after making the remarks.
Fighting Spreads Across the Region
The conflict continued to widen on Friday, with several Gulf states reporting attacks or interceptions.
Explosions were heard over Dubai in the early hours as air defence systems intercepted incoming fire. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates said all threats were successfully neutralised and no injuries were reported.
In Kuwait, officials said Iranian drones struck the Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery, sparking fires in multiple units. The facility, one of the country’s largest, was partially shut down as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
Bahrain reported a warehouse fire caused by falling shrapnel, while Saudi Arabia said it had shot down several drones targeting its Eastern Province.
Airstrikes on Tehran
Israel said it had launched a new round of strikes on Tehran early on Friday, with residents reporting explosions across the capital.
The strikes came after a day of intensified Iranian missile launches towards Israel, with more than a dozen reported on Thursday.
The latest attacks took place as Iranians marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year, while much of the Gulf was observing Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.
Leadership and Strategic Tensions
Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a statement on Friday calling for Iran’s enemies to have their “security” taken away.
He assumed the role after his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli strike at the start of the conflict.
There have been unconfirmed reports from US and Israeli officials suggesting Mojtaba Khamenei may have been injured during the war.
Energy Infrastructure Under Pressure
The conflict has increasingly targeted energy facilities across the Gulf, raising concerns about global supply.
Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, which can process around 730,000 barrels of oil per day, was among the sites hit. The country has faced difficulties exporting oil as the conflict has disrupted shipping routes through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices have risen sharply in response, with Brent crude climbing as concerns grow over prolonged disruption.
Ongoing Military Activity
Israel also confirmed strikes in Syria, targeting infrastructure following attacks on Druze communities in the south of the country.
Meanwhile, the conflict in Lebanon has intensified, with the death toll from recent Israeli strikes surpassing 1,000, according to reports.
Outlook
Iran has signalled it intends to continue the conflict, despite sustained military pressure and the loss of senior figures.
With attacks spreading across multiple countries and key infrastructure increasingly under threat, there is little indication that the fighting will ease in the near term.
