Qalibaf: Iran Turned Israel into Its Missile Testing Ground
WANA ( Jul 11) – Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, said in an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) that the recent confrontation between Iran and Israel not only challenged Israel’s social resilience but also exposed the true face of the United States while showcasing a new image of Iran’s military power.
He emphasized that, unlike the Israelis who were forced to leave their land during the recent attacks, Iranians remained in their country despite the threats: “They returned to the countries they had originally come from—because they have no land, no state, and no nation.”
Qalibaf added: “If the U.S. hadn’t been involved in this war, Israel wouldn’t have lasted even a week against us. We weren’t just fighting the Zionist regime—we were facing the U.S., NATO, and the West as a united front.”
A new satellite image of the Fordow underground facility shows holes that are likely the result of U.S. bunker-buster missile strikes /WANA News Agency
The Real Commander of the War: The United States
According to Qalibaf, the U.S. was the primary orchestrator of the war from the outset, but for the first time, it was forced to reveal its true role: “Israel is nothing more than America’s 51st state. In this war, the U.S. didn’t just support Israel—it directly intervened and attacked Iran.”
He revealed that just as Iran was preparing for a sixth round of indirect talks with the U.S., a sudden strike hit Iranian facilities on a Friday. Initially attributed to Israel, the attack was ultimately revealed to have been directly carried out by the U.S. Iran’s response, he said, was direct and unambiguous: “We fired 14 missiles at the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) headquarters in Southwest Asia, located in Qatar.”
Israel Under Missile Fire—and Harsh Realities
Qalibaf claimed that one of the major outcomes of the war was a dramatic improvement in the accuracy and capability of Iran’s missile arsenal: “We turned Israel into our missile testing ground. Missiles that had only been tested in non-operational settings were now used in a real battlefield. Over 90 percent hit their targets.”
The Israeli army also acknowledged that rescue teams are operating in several areas across the country where casualties have been reported / WANA News Agency
He asserted that Israel can no longer boast about its Iron Dome or economic security: “Their intelligence and security doctrine has collapsed. They can no longer sell tourism or economic opportunity under the name of Israel. Investors are fleeing, and reverse migration is on the way.”
Ceasefire as a Retreat from Bold Claims
Although Israel initiated the conflict, Qalibaf said it was forced to propose a ceasefire after just 12 days. He attributed this retreat to Iran’s air and ground dominance: “Their claim that 70 percent of our missiles were intercepted didn’t match what happened on the ground.”
The Second Round of Iranian Missile Strikes on Occupied Territories in Day Three of the Iran-Israel War, June 15, 2025. Social media/ WANA News Agency
He described Operation True Promise 3 as a turning point: “This wasn’t just a retaliatory strike—it was full-scale war. We launched nightly attacks and disabled their air defenses.”
According to an Israeli military research center, the war resulted in over 500 deaths and 3,520 injuries, though official Israeli sources confirmed only 28 fatalities. Qalibaf dismissed the lower figure as implausible, citing statistical norms.
Iran’s first use of the long-range Sejjil missile, with a reported range of 2,000 kilometers /WANA News Agency
A Shift in Global Perception of Israel
Qalibaf said that Israel, long portrayed as a secure island in a volatile region, is now grappling with internal insecurity: “We turned Tel Aviv into rubble and showed it to the world. The very image they projected of Gaza was now turned back on themselves.”
He described the defeat as not only military but also symbolic: “The very structure of Israel collapsed. They went from inviting Jews to migrate to the ‘Promised Land’ to fleeing by ship to other countries.”
A War That United Iran and the Region
One of the war’s key outcomes, Qalibaf argued, was national unity: “Ninety million Iranians became the core of the Islamic Republic. This unity emerged overnight and gave real meaning to the verse: ‘And whoever fears God…’ in the political arena.”
People attend a protest against the U.S attack on nuclear sites amid the Iran-Israel conflict, in Tehran, Iran, June 22, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
He also noted the emergence of international solidarity—from American universities to the streets of Canada and Europe, where Iranians raised their flag. He added that Sunni and Shia scholars, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Imam of Masjid al-Haram, and the Sheikh of Al-Azhar all expressed support for Iran.
Qalibaf concluded: “This was a moment reminiscent of the Tobacco Protest fatwa. What we gained from this war wasn’t just military experience—it was the consolidation of a new narrative of power and legitimacy.”
