Iran building ‘defensive tunnels’ in Tehran metro network to save people from Israeli air strikes

Citizens have complained about lack of warning and protection since the country came under attack in October

Iran is building a “defensive” tunnel within Tehran’s metro network over fears of further Israeli strikes on the capital.
According to Jafar Tashakori, the head of Tehran’s city council transport committee, this is the first time that a tunnel with “defensive functionalities” has been constructed in the city.
Mr Tashakori said that the tunnel would run between two metro stations and provide direct underground access to a hospital.
“This tunnel connects different parts of the city as part of a broader strategy,” he told reporters in Tehran.
The announcement provides few details about the purpose or nature of the defensive features.
After Israel’s air strikes on military centres near Tehran and several other cities in Iran in October, some Iranian citizens on social media criticised the clerical regime for lack of safety facilities for civilians.
They were frustrated by the paucity of information regarding the Israeli strikes, as well as the fact there were no air raid sirens and shelters in the capital.
The Islamic Republic has so far refused to advise its citizens on what to do during a bombardment.
Analysts say that by leaving the population vulnerable, the government is essentially using civilians as human shields.
Iran left its airspace open when it fired dozens of missiles at American-led forces in Iraq in 2020.
This led to the downing of a plane in which all 176 people on board were killed after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) thought the aircraft was an incoming US missile.
Iran also allowed civilian flights to continue when it launched missile barrages on Israel in April and October 2024.
The planned metro tunnel is most likely be used as a civilian shelter in the event of future Israeli strikes.
On Monday the Telegram channel Saberin, which has close ties with Iran’s regional allies, published a video of an underground city housing some of the IRGC’s drones and missiles.
Iranian media has reported that a conference titled “Defensive Tunnels” will be held at the IRGC’s officers academy on Nov 20.
Iranian officials have also warned that they will carry out a retaliatory attack on Israel in response to Israel’s October strikes.
Israel Katz, the newly appointed Israeli defence minister, said on Monday that Iran was “more exposed than ever to strikes on its nuclear facilities”.
He added: “We have the opportunity to achieve our most important goal – to thwart and eliminate the existential threat to the state of Israel.”