At the same time, it has still prioritized building offensive ballistic missiles to deter and strike its adversaries.
Several reports go so far as to report that Iran's entire arsenal of Russian-built S-300 air defense systems was hit.
Related storiesThere are reasons to be skeptical about the extent of damage to Iran's air defenses.
Israel's attack was retaliation for Iran's enormous October 1 ballistic missile strike.
Unlike its foe Israel, which has built one of the world's most advanced air defense systems, Iran has focused on developing strike missiles.
Persons:
—, Tehran's, Joe Biden's, Amos Hochstein, hasn't, Arash Azizi, Boston University's Frederick S, James Devine, Israel, Farzin, Nadimi, Azizi, Devine
Organizations:
Service, Boston University's, Pardee Center, Iran's, Department of Politics, Relations, Mount Allison University, Washington Institute for Near East, AIM, Phoenix, Soviet Union, American Hawk
Locations:
Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Tehran, Moscow, Iraq, Soviet, American, China, North Korea