Washington, USA – Michael Doran, director of the Center for Peace and Middle East Security at the Hudson Institute, warned that Iran is rapidly rebuilding its ballistic missile capabilities with Chinese assistance, paving the way for what he described as an “inevitable clash” with Israel, regardless of its nuclear program.
In an extensive interview with journalist Tamas Marazzi at the Danube Institute, Duran described the current Iranian situation as “like a rabid dog; it may weaken but it is still capable of killing,” pointing to the danger of growing missile capabilities to the stability of the region.
Intelligence reports indicate that Israel is preparing for a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on December 29, to discuss potential military options against Iran’s missile capabilities. Tel Aviv is seeking logistical support or a “green light” from the US for any potential operation.
Estimates showed that Tehran was seeking to produce about 3,000 missiles per month, utilizing Chinese technology and components, while satellites detected attempts to repair air defense systems and rebuild factories damaged during what is known as the “12-day war” in June 2025.
Duran pointed out that Iran’s missile program has become a more urgent and immediate threat than its nuclear program at the moment, warning that any escalation could occur before the end of the year, as Netanyahu seeks to exploit the close relationship with the Trump administration to impose a new security reality that prevents Tehran from possessing what he calls “missile saturation power” that could exceed the capabilities of Israeli defense systems such as the Iron Dome and David’s Sling.
