DUBAI, Feb 28 - The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, an escalation that President Donald Trump said would remove a security threat to the United States and create an opening for Iranians to challenge their government. In response, Iran fired missiles toward Israel, the Israeli military said.
This report details the nature of ballistic missiles and the known characteristics of Iran's missile forces, including types in service, operational ranges, storage and deployment practices, and recent use.
What are ballistic missiles?
A ballistic missile is a rocket-propelled weapon that is guided during its ascent but then generally follows a free-fall trajectory for most of its flight. Such weapons carry warheads that can be fitted with conventional explosives or, potentially, biological, chemical or nuclear munitions over varying distances. Western governments view Iran's ballistic missile inventory both as a conventional military capability that affects regional stability and as a possible future delivery system for nuclear weapons, should Tehran develop them. Iran has denied any intention to produce atomic bombs.
Iranian missile types and ranges
According to the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Iran holds the largest stockpile of ballistic missiles in the Middle East. Iranian officials have stated the country imposes an internal range limit of 2,000 km (1,240 miles) on its missiles, which they say is enough to protect the nation and to reach Israel.
Many missile sites are concentrated in and around Tehran. There are at least five identified underground "missile cities" in various provinces, including Kermanshah and Semnan, and some facilities are located nearer the Gulf region. These depots are reported to include production, storage, transport and launch systems that increase survivability.
Multiple long-range systems in Iran's inventory are listed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies as capable of reaching Israel. Those systems include:
- Sejil - reported range of 2,000 km
- Emad - 1,700 km
- Ghadr - 2,000 km
- Shahab-3 - 1,300 km
- Khorramshahr - 2,000 km
- Hoveyzeh - 1,350 km
Semi-official Iranian outlet ISNA published a graphic in April 2025 listing nine missiles it said could reach Israel. The graphic named the Sejil and described it as capable of flying at more than 17,000 km (10,500 miles) per hour with a range of 2,500 km; it also named the Kheibar at 2,000 km and the Haj Qasem at 1,400 km.
The Arms Control Association in Washington lists additional systems and estimated ranges, including:
- Shahab-1 - estimated range around 300 km
- Zolfaghar - 700 km
- Shahab-3 - 800-1,000 km
- Emad-1 - under development, estimated 2,000 km
- Sejil model - under development, estimated 1,500-2,500 km
In addition to ballistic systems, Iran possesses cruise missiles. One example listed is the Kh-55, an air-launched weapon described as nuclear-capable with a range up to 3,000 km.
When were these missiles last used?
Iran used ballistic missiles during a 12-day war with Israel in June 2025, firing missiles into Israeli territory. Those strikes killed dozens of people and destroyed buildings. The Institute for the Study of War and the AEI Critical Threats Project assessed that Israel likely destroyed around a third of Iranian missile launchers during the conflict. Iranian authorities have said they have recovered from the damage sustained in that war.
Iran also fired missiles at the U.S. Al Udeid air base in Qatar in response to U.S. involvement in Israel's air campaign. Tehran provided advance warning of that attack and there were no reported casualties. Washington announced a ceasefire hours later.
Previous uses of missiles by Iran include a January 2024 attack in which the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it struck what it described as Israel's spy headquarters in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, in addition to firing at Islamic State militants in Syria. Iran also announced missile strikes at two bases of a Baloch militant group in Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia and the United States have asserted that Iran was responsible for a 2019 drone and missile attack on Saudi oil facilities; Iran denied responsibility. In 2020, Iran launched missiles at U.S.-led forces in Iraq in response to a U.S. drone strike that killed Major General Qassem Soleimani of the Revolutionary Guards.
Missile strategy and ongoing development
Iran maintains that its ballistic missile force serves as a deterrent and a means of retaliation against the United States, Israel and other nations it regards as potential adversaries. Analyses referenced in reporting indicate Tehran has invested in underground missile depots complete with transport and firing systems as well as production and storage facilities. In 2020, Iranian authorities reported they fired a ballistic missile from underground for the first time.
A 2023 report by Behnam Ben Taleblu noted that years of reverse-engineering and domestic production have taught Iran techniques to extend airframes and use lighter composite materials to increase missile range. In June 2023, Iranian officials presented what they described as a domestically produced hypersonic ballistic missile. The official IRNA news agency reported that hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and follow complex trajectories that make interception difficult.
The Arms Control Association has characterized Iran's missile program as largely based on North Korean and Russian designs and said it has benefited from Chinese assistance.
Key takeaways
- Iran holds the largest ballistic missile stockpile in the Middle East, with multiple systems able to reach Israel and regional targets.
- Iran has invested in underground storage and launch facilities and is developing longer-range and harder-to-intercept systems, including claims about hypersonic capabilities.
- Missile use has been part of Iran's recent military activity, including strikes during the June 2025 conflict with Israel and other operations stretching back to 2019 and 2020.
Summary
Iran's missile network comprises a range of ballistic and cruise systems, underground depots, and domestic development programs aimed at increasing range and survivability. Recent operations demonstrate that Tehran has deployed these systems in regional conflicts, while international actors remain concerned about the potential for these platforms to be used as delivery mechanisms for nuclear warheads if Iran were to pursue atomic weapons. Iran denies such intent. The current round of strikes and missile launches underscores the role ballistic capabilities play in regional deterrence and conflict dynamics.