The Observer view on averting the west’s collision course with Iran | Observer editorial
GuardianJan 08, 2023
Iran's official IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday that the country has unveiled an underground air force facility — dubbed "Eagle 44" — purportedly the first of its kind large enough to house fighter jets.
The underground complex is serving as one of the country's major air force facilities and is said to be capable of storing and operating several aircraft, including long-range cruise missile fighters and bombers, as well as military drones.
The fact that the Mullah regime is now disclosing "Eagle 44" underscores the danger it poses to Israel as well as to the West. Add to this the brutal crackdown on protests for women's rights and Tehran's support of Moscow for its Ukraine war, and it becomes clear that the previous policy of indifference and appeasement has failed. The risk of open confrontation with the theocratic dictatorship is increasing — a fundamental rethink is needed before it is too late.
The underground base impressively underlines that Tehran will not give in to the West or Israel. As a sovereign country in a strategically important region, Tehran is a thorn in Washington's side, but its efforts to overthrow the government will be met by the unity of the Iranian people. Moreover, the strength and innovation of the Iranian military will help ensure that Iran will never again allow itself to be controlled and plundered as in the days of the Shah regime.
There's a 47% chance that Iran will obtain a nuclear weapon by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.