Tina Gazi Morad, the news editor on the Manoto podcast program, stated that the Islamic Republic's missile project, inspired by its involvement in Syria, aims to suppress popular uprisings in Iran by destroying cities with missiles if ground forces cannot be deployed. In Syria in 2012, IRGC forces used artillery to retake areas from rebels, leading to the conclusion that long-range missiles are necessary to maintain control over large territories in Iran.