Iran Ballistic Missile

#Iran

#BallisticMissile

#NuclearMissile

Here’s the latest on Iran’s ballistic missile activities in mid‑2025:

Key New Missiles & Capabilities

• Qassem Basir: A solid-fueled MRBM unveiled in May 2025, with a ~1,200 km range. Iran claims it can “penetrate THAAD and Patriot air defenses” using enhanced maneuverability and precision guidance systems .

• Etemad (“Trust”): Debuted in February 2025; liquid-fueled missile with a reported 1,700 km range—covering Israel and beyond .

Fattah‑1: Iran’s first domestically claimed hypersonic-capable missile (Mach 13–15), though true hypersonic maneuverability remains unverified .

Haj Qasem and its variant Qassem Basir: MRBM with ~1,400 km range; Qassem Basir is a modernized, solid‑fuel version .

Kheibar (Khorramshahr‑4): An IRBM with a 2,000 km range and heavy (1,500–1,800 kg) warhead, displayed in underground facilities .

Recent Missile Campaigns

Operation True Promise III” (June 2025): Iran launched between 500–550 ballistic missiles and >1,000 drones toward Israel in multiple waves; 80–90% of missiles were intercepted .

Notable use of different systems including Emad, Ghadr, Kheybar Shekan, Fattah‑1, Sejjil, and cluster-warhead Khorramshahr‑4 missiles .

Hypersonic-style Fattah‑1 and others have drawn heavy Israeli defense focus .

Defense & Countermeasures

Israel, with aid from the US, deployed THAAD, Patriot, Iron Dome, and Aegis / SM‑3 systems; US Navy warships intercepted several missiles in Eastern Mediterranean .

Rapid-fire launches from underground “missile megacities” and mobile launchers make targeting difficult .

Strategic Impact & Proliferation

Volume & variety: Iran now has one of the region’s largest ballistic arsenals with both liquid and solid fuel systems, hypersonic claims, and guideable warheads

Arms proliferation: Supplies Fateh‑110 and others to proxies and even Russia, signaling global impact .

Propellant imports: Iran recently acquired ammonium perchlorate from China—enough for hundreds of missiles; concerns persist about regional spillover .

Summary Table

Missile System Propellant Range (km) Special Features

Etemad Liquid ~1,700 Guided warhead

Haj Qasem / Basir Solid 1,200–1,400 Maneuverable, GPS-independent guidance

Qassem Basir Solid (2-stage) ~1,200 Designed to bypass missile defenses

Fattah‑1 Solid 1,400 Claimed hypersonic capabilities

Khorramshahr‑4 (Kheibar) Liquid ~2,000 Heavy warheads, underground storage

Cluster munitions, Sejjil, Emad, Ghadr, Shahed drones Mixed Varying Used in June 2025 volleys

Outlook & Risks Ahead

Escalation potential: Iran’s diversified missile fleet—especially mobile solid-fuel types—gives it rapid strike capability against Israel and U.S. bases, raising the risk of regional escalation.

Defense strain: Israel and its allies face increasing pressure on interceptor stockpiles and response infrastructure     .

Diplomacy & containment: Despite talks, Iran continues pushing missile development; international efforts may shift to missile-specific controls or containment strategies.