Iran's ballistic-missile program is the largest in the

Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...

and plays a key role in Iran's military strategy. Its diverse short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles serve as a deterrent, support regional proxies, and bolster national defense capabilities. The program aims to offset its adversaries' military superiority, particularly given Western sanctions that have hampered its ability to maintain and upgrade its air force. The country has adopted a "deterrence by punishment" approach to ward off threats from Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the United States. Concerns about the program's potential connection to Iran's nuclear ambitions have led to international scrutiny and sanctions. The program is primarily led by two the

Aerospace Industries Organization Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO, ) is a subordinate of the Iranian defence ministry and a leading high-tech complex headquartered in Tehran Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran ...

(AIO) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which oversee several subordinate missile entities and front companies that procure needed ingredients, components, and equipment from foreign suppliers. The Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization (SSJO) is tasked with advancing the country's ballistic missile capabilities.

History

Iran's missile program originated during the 1980–88

Iran–Iraq War The Iran–Iraq War, also known as the First Gulf War, was an armed conflict between Iran and Iraq that lasted from September 1980 to August 1988. Active hostilities began with the Iraqi invasion of Iran and lasted for nearly eight years, unti ...

as a means to deter Iraqi

Scud A Scud missile is one of a series of tactical ballistic missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It was exported widely to both Second and Third World countries. The term comes from the NATO reporting name attached to the m ...

attacks and compensate for its lack of modern air power. In 1984, Iran obtained its first ballistic missiles (20 Soviet " Scud-B" SRBMs) from

Libya Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...

and subsequently procured Scud derivatives and launchers from

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

and

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

. By the 1990s, Iran had reverse-engineered Scud technology to produce the

Shahab-1 The Shahab-1 (, meaning "Meteor-1") was the foundation of the short-range Iranian missile program. During the Iran–Iraq War, Iran purchased R-17 Elbrus missiles from Libya, Syria and North Korea ( Hwasong-5). It is a close copy of Hwasong-5 (R- ...

(a range of 330 km) and

Shahab-2 The Shahab-2 (, meaning "Meteor-2") is the successor to the Iranian Shahab-1 missile. It is based on the North Korean Hwasong-6 (modified version of the Hwasong-5, itself a modification of the R-17 Elbrus). Background On November 2, 2006, Ira ...

(a range of 500 km)

missiles A missile is an airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight aided usually by a propellant, jet engine or rocket motor. Historically, 'missile' referred to any projectile that is thrown, shot or propelled towards a target; this u ...

, as well as

Zelzal Zelzal (, meaning "Earthquake") is a series of artillery rockets developed by Iran. The series consists of: *Zelzal-1, with an estimated range of *Zelzal-2, with an estimated range of *Zelzal-3, with an estimated range of These rockets were dev ...

and

Fateh Fateh () is an Arabic, Arabic-language name that translates to "conqueror". It is used in many other languages across the Muslim world and in societies that have significant Islam, Islamic influence. As a given name * Fateh (name) ** Fateh (rap ...

short-range

rockets A rocket (from , and so named for its shape) is a vehicle that uses jet propulsion to accelerate without using any surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed. Rocket engines work entirely fr ...

. In the 2000s, Iran introduced longer-range systems (e.g. the liquid-fueled Shahab-3

MRBM A medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) is a type of ballistic missile with medium range, this last classification depending on the standards of certain organizations. Within the U.S. Department of Defense, a medium-range missile is defined ...

) and began testing

two-stage A multistage rocket or step rocket is a launch vehicle that uses two or more rocket ''stages'', each of which contains its own engines and propellant. A ''tandem'' or ''serial'' stage is mounted on top of another stage; a ''parallel'' stage is ...

solid-fueled designs (e.g. the Sejjil-2 MRBM). Key milestones include the public debut of Shahab-3 in 1998 (a range of ∼1,300 km range) and the solid-fuel Sajjil in 2008. By 2010 Iran was unveiling newer variants (e.g. Qiam-1 in 2010, Zolfaghar in 2016) and integrating missile tests with its growing space launch program. Throughout this period the program's drivers included deterrence of

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

and Gulf states, asymmetrical warfare doctrine, and prestige, as summed up by experts: "Iran's ballistic missile programme… is an important element of military doctrine, a means of deterrence, and a tool of statecraft". In February 2025, Iran appeared to be rearming its missile program. A ship carrying 1,000 tons of

sodium perchlorate Sodium perchlorate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It consists of sodium cations and perchlorate anions . It is a white crystalline, hygroscopic solid that is highly soluble in water and ethanol. It is usually encountered as s ...

, a chemical crucial for solid propellant production in missiles, arrived at the Iranian port of

Bandar Abbas Bandar Abbas (, ) is a city in the Central District of Bandar Abbas County, Hormozgan province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. Bandar Abbas is a port on the southern coast of the country, on the Persian ...

. This shipment could facilitate the production of propellant for about 260

Kheibar Shekan Kheibar Shekan or Kheibarshekan () is an Iranian solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force. It is of the third generation of IRGC missiles and was unveiled in 2022 at a ceremony ...

missiles or around 200 Martyr Hajj Qassem Soleimani ballistic missiles. The shipment highlights Iran's continuing dependence on international sources for critical materials.

Types

Iran's ballistic missile arsenal is estimated to include over 3,000 missiles. This large inventory comprises a diverse array of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) and medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs).

Short-range ballistic missiles

300–1,000 km range Source: *

and

– Liquid-fueled missiles with ranges of 350 km and 750 km, respectively. * Qiam-1 – A liquid-fueled SRBM with a range of 750 km and a smart targeting system. * Fateh-110 family – A series of solid-fueled missiles, including: ** ''

Fateh-110 The Fateh-110 ( "conqueror"), also known as NP-110, is an Iranian solid-fueled surface-to-surface missile, surface-to-surface ballistic missile produced by Iran's Iran Aviation Industries Organization, Aerospace Industries Organization since 2 ...

'' (300 km range) ** ''

Fateh-313 Fateh-313 (, "Conqueror-313"), an Iranian solid-fuel short-range ballistic missile, was unveiled on 21 August 2015. It is almost identical to the previous generation, the Fateh-110, but reportedly utilizes a new composite fuel and body. Iran’s ...

'' (500 km range) ** '' Zolfaghar'' (750 km range) * Hormuz series – Anti-ship SRBMs with ranges of about 300 km.

Medium-range ballistic missiles

1,000–3,000 km range Source: *

Shahab-3 The Shahab-3 (; meaning "Meteor-3") is a family of liquid propellant rocket, liquid-fueled ballistic missiles developed by Iran, under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC, and based upon the North Korean Nodong-1, Nodong-1/A and Nodong-2, ...

variants – Liquid-fueled MRBMs with ranges between 1,200 km and 2,100 km. * Qasem Basir – An improved Haj Qasem variant, with better precision and evasion mechanisms and a range of 1,200 kilometers. * Haj Qasem – A solid-fueled MRBM with an estimated range of 1,400 km. * Kheybar shekan – A precision-strike ballistic missile with a range of 1,450 km. * Fattah-1 and Fattah-2 – Hypersonic missiles reportedly capable of Mach 13 speeds, with ranges of 1,400 km and 1,500 km, respectively. * Etemad, meaning "trust" in Persian, capable of traveling 1,700 kilometers. *

Ghadr-110 The Ghadr-110 or Qadr-110, ( Persian: قدر-110, meaning "intensity") is a medium-range ballistic missile designed and developed by Iran. The missile has a range of 1,800 km to 2,000 km.Sejjil Sejil, or Sejjil, () is a family of Iranian solid-fueled medium range ballistic missiles. The Sejil are replacements for the Shahab liquid-fueled ballistic missiles. According to US Pentagon sources, the missile profile of the Sejil closely ma ...

– A two-stage, solid-fueled MRBM with a range of 2,000 km. *

Khorramshahr Khorramshahr (; ) is a city in the Central District of Khorramshahr County, Khuzestan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. It is also known in Arabic by the local ethnically Arab population as Al-Muhamma ...

– A liquid-fueled MRBM that can carry multiple warheads, with a range of 2,000 km. * Emad – An improved Shahab-3 variant with better precision and a range of 2,000 km. The following table summarizes the information on the types of missiles, their range, unit cost, and annual upkeep cost:

Stock

Iran was assumed to possess more than 3,000 missiles total (all ranges) before the Iran–Israel war. Iran manufactured hundreds of SRBMs (e.g. Fateh-110/M-600) for

Hezbollah Hezbollah ( ; , , ) is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and paramilitary group. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese Parliament. I ...

. Yemen’s

Houthis The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, is a Zaydism, Zaydi Shia Islamism, Shia Islamist political and military organization that emerged from Yemen in the 1990s. It is predominantly made up of Zaydi Shias, with their namesake leadersh ...

possess dozens of ballistic missiles that can hit

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...

. Iran-backed Iraqi militias have received "a couple of dozen" short-range ballistic missiles. Iran employs mobile transporter-erector-launchers (TELs) (e.g. multi-axle trucks) for most missiles, allowing dispersion. Aerial photos show Iranian TELs carrying Zelzal, Qiam and Sejjil missiles on 6x6, 8x8, or 10x10

chassis A chassis (, ; plural ''chassis'' from French châssis ) is the load-bearing framework of a manufactured object, which structurally supports the object in its construction and function. An example of a chassis is a vehicle frame, the underpart ...

. Iran also maintains hardened facilities (often underground) for missile assembly and storage. Notably,

satellite A satellite or an artificial satellite is an object, typically a spacecraft, placed into orbit around a celestial body. They have a variety of uses, including communication relay, weather forecasting, navigation ( GPS), broadcasting, scient ...

imagery reveals vast new complexes at Khojir and Modarres near

Tehran Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...

– expanded missile production and storage sites with numerous protective berms and bunkers.

Bases

Iran has numerous ballistic-missile bases spread across the country, with many underground, including: #

Khorramabad Khorramabad (; ) is a city in the Central District of Khorramabad County, Lorestan province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. Situated in a scenic valley surrounded by mountains, the city lies approx ...

Underground Missile Base: Located in Lorestan province, this base is known to have the most missile silos in the country. # Kenesht Canyon Underground Base: Situated in Kermanshah province. # Panj Pelleh Underground Base: Also located in Kermanshah province. # Bakhtaran Missile Base: Located in western Iran, this base is strategically positioned for potential launches against targets in Israel, the Gulf States, and Europe. # Haji Abad Missile Base: A suspected new hardened launch site near Haji Abad, though its exact location is not disclosed. # Undisclosed Gulf Location: On January 18, 2025, the IRGC navy unveiled an underground naval missile base at an undisclosed location in the Gulf region34. # Southern Iran Coastal Areas: On February 2, 2025, the IRGC navy unveiled another underground missile base in the coastal areas of southern Iran. Iran has missile bases in all provinces and cities throughout the country, with many at depths of 500 meters underground. The locations of many of these bases remain classified for security reasons. Iran continues to expand its missile production capabilities, with recent unveilings of underground "missile cities" showing its growing arsenal.

Nuclear potential

Several of Iran's ballistic missiles have the range and payload capacity to carry a nuclear warhead, should Iran choose to develop one. This has drawn international concern and sanctions. The Shahab-3, based on North Korean technology, one of Iran's most sophisticated ballistic missiles. With a range of about 1,300 kilometers, it could carry a nuclear warhead. The Ghadr-1, a Shahab-3 variant, extends this range to almost 2,000 kilometers. A 2019 study declared the original Shahab-3 to be "designed to be nuclear capable". The Khorramshahr, Iran's most advanced liquid-fuel ballistic missile, is also considered to be designed for potential nuclear capability. Its wider conical nose (1.5 meters in diameter) could accommodate a nuclear device. Iran's medium-range ballistic missiles, such as the Sejjil and Emad, with ranges between 1,500-2,500 kilometers, could be adapted to carry nuclear warheads. These missiles cover all of the

and parts of

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

, making them a concern for regional and international security. While the 2017

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA; (, BARJAM)), also known as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal, is an agreement to limit the Iranian nuclear program in return for sanctions relief and other provisions. The agreement was finalize ...

was designed to block Iran's pathways to nuclear weapons, concerns remain about the potential dual-use nature of Iran's missile technology. The international community has expressed concerns about Iran's missile program, particularly its potential connection to Iran's nuclear ambitions. UN

Security Council The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, an ...

Resolution 2231 previously forbade Iran from activities involving "missiles designed to be nuclear capable," but these restrictions expired in October 2023.{{Cite web , date=2024-04-12 , title=Iran's Ballistic Missile Program , url=https://iranprimer.usip.org/resource/irans-ballistic-missile-program , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://archive.today/20250307044012/https://iranprimer.usip.org/resource/irans-ballistic-missile-program , archive-date=March 7, 2025 , access-date=2025-02-24 , website=

United States Institute of Peace The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is an American independent, nonprofit, national institute funded by the U.S. Congress and tasked with promoting conflict resolution and prevention worldwide. See alsPDF on USIP website. It provides rese ...

, language=en

References

Ballistic missiles of Iran Weapons of Iran Military technology Weapons of mass destruction International security