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Iran's expanding arsenal amid conflict with Israel: What missiles does Tehran have?

In the wake of Iran's massive missile retaliation against Israel, we take a look at Tehran's formidable missile arsenal. From short-range rockets to potential hypersonic weapons, Iran's missile programme is vast and growing read more Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits the Ministry of Defense missile and defence achievements exhibition in Tehran, Iran, February 2, 2025. Iran's Presidential website/WANA via Reuters Iran's missile retaliation into Saturday morning on Israel was triggered by an Israeli aerial and drone attack that struck key Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. The Israeli operation, according to Iran's UN ambassador, also targeted prominent figures in Iran's military and scientific communities. In response, Iran launched drones and waves of ballistic missiles toward Israel, with explosions reported in cities such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israeli defence systems engaged the incoming projectiles, while authorities advised civilians to take shelter. Iranian media claimed that approximately 180 ballistic missiles were launched in this unprecedented retaliatory move. We take a look at Iran's missile capabilities: How did Israel's missile programme come about? Iran's ballistic missile programme is among the most expansive in West Asia, originating well before the 1979 Islamic Revolution but gaining urgency and momentum during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Managed primarily by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), this programme has evolved from reverse-engineered Soviet and North Korean designs into a largely indigenous, technologically diversified arsenal. In 2022, US Central Command General Kenneth McKenzie confirmed that Iran possesses over 3,000 ballistic missiles. This number excludes Iran's growing force of land-attack cruise missiles (LACMs) and space launch vehicles (SLVs), which share overlapping technologies with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). US and Israeli intelligence assessments have long warned that Iran's focus on accuracy, maneuverability, and propulsion technology, particularly its growing use of solid-fuel designs, reflects an ambition to create missiles capable of evading interception and delivering substantial payloads over long distances. What missiles did Iran use in its latest barrage against Israel? The latest conflict saw Iran retaliate against Israeli strikes by launching around 180 ballistic missiles, according to state-affiliated Fars news agency. The barrage included a mix of Emad and Ghadr missiles, alongside two of its more advanced models — the Kheibar Shekan and Fattah — all of which are medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) with ranges surpassing 600 miles (approximately 965 kilometres). Israel's government described its preemptive attacks as essential to thwarting Iran's alleged march toward nuclear weapons capability. The US and independent experts, however, maintained that Iran was not actively developing a nuclear weapon at the time of the Israeli assault. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iran's missile response targeted urban centers, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, sending civilians to bomb shelters for extended periods. These missiles showcased advancement as several were designed to navigate missile defence systems through satellite-guided control fins and variable re-entry angles. What missiles does Iran have in its arsenal? Iran has deployed and tested a wide range of short-, medium-, and long-range systems. The bulk of its arsenal is comprised of ballistic missiles, but it also maintains cruise missiles and has developed space launch capabilities. Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) Iran's short-range missile portfolio includes variants of Soviet Scud systems such as Shahab-1 (300 km) and Shahab-2 (500 km), both of which use liquid fuel. More advanced SRBMs like the Fateh-110 (300 km), Fateh-313 (500 km), Raad-500 (500 km), Zolfaghar (700 km), and Dezful (1,000 km) employ solid-fuel propulsion, enabling faster launch and greater mobility. Several of these systems have demonstrated high accuracy, with Circular Error Probable (CEP) values between 10–100 metres, according to open-source defence assessments. Medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs): Iran's MRBM capability includes the Shahab-3 (1,300 km), Ghadr (1,600 km), Emad (1,800 km), and the Khorramshahr series (ranging from 2,000–3,000 km). Most of these utilise liquid fuel, though more recent developments prioritise solid-fuel engines. The Kheibar Shekan (1,450 km) and Haj Qassem (1,400 km), for example, are solid-fuelled and fitted with advanced guidance systems. Iran's newer Qassem Basir, a successor to the Shahid Haj Qassem, reportedly has a 1,200 km range and is designed specifically to evade systems like THAAD and Patriot. The Sejjil missile — a solid-fuelled, two-stage MRBM with a range of up to 2,000 km — represents a significant leap in Iran's indigenous capability, giving it the ability to launch long-range strikes with reduced launch preparation time and improved survivability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Long-range capable systems & cruise missiles While Iran has publicly stated a self-imposed missile range limit of 2,000 km since 2015, experts caution that this could be reversed. The Khorramshahr-4, with a lighter warhead, could likely exceed this limit. Meanwhile, cruise missiles like the Soumar (believed to be derived from the nuclear-capable Russian Kh-55), Hoveizeh (1,350 km), and the Paveh (1,650 km) offer Iran strategic strike options at subsonic speeds and with varying propulsion types, including turbojets and turbofans. How has Iran used these different missiles? Many of Iran's missiles are inherently dual-use — capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear payloads. This has remained a persistent concern for the international community. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 had called upon Iran to refrain from developing missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons. However, with the expiration of related restrictions and sanctions in October 2023, Iran has accelerated its testing and refinement of such systems. The transition from liquid to solid propellants across newer platforms also indicates Iran's intent to reduce launch windows, making missile systems harder to detect and destroy in preemptive strikes. Iran claims that its most advanced missiles, such as the Fattah, can follow hypersonic trajectories — using atmospheric manoeuvring to defeat even the most advanced anti-missile shields. Iran has not confined its missile use to direct state conflict. Since 2017, the country has employed missiles in combat operations, including the 2020 strike on US bases in Iraq. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tehran has also exported missile technology to its regional proxies — including Houthi rebels in Yemen — who have used them against civilian and military targets in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and even against maritime traffic in the Red Sea. There have also been intelligence assessments suggesting Iranian willingness to provide missile systems to Russia, further raising international scrutiny. Iran's space programme, though civilian in name, shares a technological foundation with its missile programme. Vehicles like the Safir, Simorgh, Zuljanah, Qased, and Ghaem-100 demonstrate long-range propulsion capabilities that are nearly identical to those needed for intercontinental ballistic missile development. For instance, the Simorgh, capable of lifting payloads into low-Earth orbit, has an estimated range between 4,000–6,000 kilometres — placing it well beyond the parameters of regional deterrence and into the realm of strategic missile development. With inputs from agencies