Ballistic missiles “without limits” – that is what Iran has been promoting since the beginning of October 2025, when Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei decided to lift restrictions on the range of missiles, so that they can reach any target deemed necessary.
In the midst of Tehran’s efforts to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles, experts and figures in the Iranian opposition speak of a coming generation of ballistic missiles with ranges exceeding 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles), meaning that they would be capable of striking targets in Europe.
On October 9, Ahmad Bakhshesh Ardestani, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy, announced that Iran had developed – and would continue to develop – its missile program in line with its needs.
Ardestani told the website Iran Didban: “In the past, the Supreme Leader stated – for reasons he deemed appropriate – that the range of Iran’s missiles should be limited to 2,200 kilometers. But now he has lifted the restrictions imposed on the missile range.”
He pointed out that it is logical for his country not to accept any restrictions on its missile range, since its main strength in warfare lies in its missiles, and therefore it must enhance the most important element of its military power – that is, the missile program – without any limits.
Ardestani’s statement was preceded by one made by Mohammad Jafar Asadi, Deputy Director of the Inspection Department at the central Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In an interview with Fars News Agency, affiliated with the IRGC, he said: “Iran will increase the range of its missiles to any necessary extent.”
Over the past years, Iran’s declared policy in the field of missile manufacturing had been confined to limited ranges, and Iranian officials had long claimed that their country’s missile program was defensive. But this approach changed after the twelve-day war with Israel in June last year, when Iran, through many of its officials, declared that negotiating over its missile program was a “red line.”
As for the reasons behind limiting the missile range in past years, Mohammad Ali Jafari, a senior IRGC officer, told Fars News Agency: “We did not have any restrictions on developing the missile range in many areas, but there were precautions and considerations from the leadership – including avoiding extending the range beyond regional needs so that Europeans would not feel threatened.”
Jafari added: “Our regional threat was mostly within a range of 2,000 kilometers; regional enemies such as Israel and the American bases were located within that range, and there was no need to provoke beyond it.”
According to Iranian Kurdish opposition parties, Iran is capable of quickly extending the range of its current missiles – which reach 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) – in record time, but currently it cannot exceed a 5,000-kilometer (3,100 mile) range, which would be considered intercontinental. Achieving that would require several years.
Beshio Mofakhri, a senior member of the Iranian Kurdish opposition Kurdistan Freedom Party, believes that Khamenei’s decision to lift restrictions on missile range signals a serious and real danger to Europe. Mofakhri therefore sees that Iran will use the threat of its missiles to pressure Europeans to force them to submit to its demands and lift sanctions.
“It is difficult for Iran to launch direct attacks on the United States due to the long distance between the two countries, in addition to the defensive and technological capabilities the U.S. possesses to thwart such attacks. But Iran’s threat to Europe and to American bases in the region is extremely real. The ranges Iran will reach after lifting the restrictions will enable it to target European cities,” Mofakhri told MBN.
Iran’s missile program dates back to the 1980s, when Iran began developing it during its war with Iraq. The program’s capabilities grew during the 1990s, relying on the expertise of North Korea, Russia, and China. The three countries increased their technological cooperation with Tehran in missile development over recent years. This cooperation resulted in the production and development of an arsenal consisting of long-, medium-, and short-range missiles, in addition to the development of Iranian kamikaze drones.
After thorough follow-up and investigation into Iran’s missile program – through contacts with experts inside and outside Iran, as well as information from the Kurdistan Freedom Party, the Ahwaz National Executive Council, and several other opposition leaders – MBN obtained accurate information about several newly developed Iranian missiles whose ranges were extended even during the period of internal restrictions, through a secret program intended to avoid confrontation with Washington and European countries.
The arsenal includes the following long-range missiles:
The Emad Missile: A long-range, surface-to-surface missile with a range of 1,700 km (1,056 miles). It runs on liquid fuel and is the first Iranian missile equipped with a MARV (Maneuverable Reentry Vehicle) warhead, giving it the ability to maneuver and change trajectory, thus allowing for high accuracy in hitting targets – especially moving ones.
The Qadr Missile: A long-range surface-to-surface missile from the Qadr series (Qadr H, F, and S). It is a modified version of the Shahab-3 missile. When it was first produced in 2007, its range was about 1,600 km (990 miles), but over the years it underwent several upgrades. The latest, in October 2025, increased its range to 2,000 km (1,240 miles) and added an electronic guidance system. These missiles were used by Iran in its war against Israel in June of last year.
The Qadr missiles are two-stage ballistic missiles: the first stage uses liquid fuel, and the second uses solid fuel. This dual-stage structure gives the missiles longer range and greater ability to penetrate air defense systems.
Sejjil Missile: A long-range, two-stage ballistic missile that runs on solid fuel. It has undergone several upgrades over the years and comes in a series consisting of the Sejjil, Sejjil-2, and Sejjil-3. The first two have ranges between 2,000 and 2,500 km, while the Sejjil-3 is still in the testing phase. The IRGC is working to extend its range to 4,000 km (2,485 miles). Iran used the Sejjil and Sejjil-2 for the first time during its missile attacks on Israel in June of last year.
Ashoura Missile: A ballistic missile with a range of 2,500 km (1,550 miles). It has two stages and runs on solid fuel. These missiles are capable of reaching Eastern European countries.
Khorramshahr Missile: A long-range ballistic missile running on liquid fuel. The first version was produced in 2017 with a range of 2,000 km. It underwent gradual improvements, resulting in Khorramshahr-2 and 3, with the latest version, known as Kheibar or Khorramshahr-4, released in 2023. It was used in Iran’s war with Israel. The IRGC’s Aerospace Force is currently upgrading it to extend its range to 4,000 km.
Shahab Missiles (4, 5, and 6): These are part of the Shahab ballistic missile series. Iran has conducted multiple upgrades on the last three versions, which all use solid fuel. The Shahab-4 has a range of about 3,000 km (1,860 miles), Shahab-5 exceeds 5,000 km (3,106 miles) and Shahab-6—the latest and still under testing—is expected to reach 10,000 km (6,200 miles).
Dr. Mohibi (a pseudonym), an Iranian expert in international relations living in Tehran and specializing in Iran–West relations, has been closely following the Iranian missile file since the 1980s. He notes that many Iranian missile systems are in fact copies or replicas of North Korean designs. For example, the Fateh hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile is the Iranian version of North Korea’s Hwasong-10.
“The increase in the range of Iranian missiles represents a potential danger. In a catastrophic scenario, or under extreme pressure – if the regime concludes that it is about to collapse – it might attempt to launch missiles toward Berlin, London, Paris, or Washington,” Dr. Mohibi told MBN.
At the same time, he believes that the current state of the conflict does not indicate that Tehran intends to carry out such attacks, even with renewed Israeli strikes or American assistance to Israel.
He added: “What the regime seeks is to provoke verbal tension with the West without sliding into direct confrontation, while simultaneously working to lift as many sanctions as possible.”
Mohibi predicts that if war resumes, Iran’s response would be to launch attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and other parts of the region – attacks often carried out by the regime to appease hardliners who expect harsh revenge and the destruction of Israel and its supporters.
According to information from the Ahwaz National Executive Council – a political body opposing Tehran that seeks to restore the independence of Ahwaz in southern Iran – leaders of the Revolutionary Guard had not ceased demanding the lifting of restrictions on missile range over the past years.
The Council adds that during a meeting in 2018 between several IRGC commanders and Supreme Leader Khamenei, the commanders requested that the restrictions be lifted, but he insisted on maintaining the 2,200 km limit. When asked why, his answer was: “To preserve the Shiite axis stretching from Tehran to Ahwaz, Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut, and Sanaa – and that distance is at most 2,000 kilometers.”
Aref Al-Kaabi, head of the Ahwaz National Executive Council, points out that the missiles Iran possesses are not 100% domestically produced. Most of their spare parts come from North Korea, China, and Russia. Therefore, he expects the three countries to accelerate the process of supplying Iran with the materials needed to manufacture and develop ballistic missiles so that it can quickly increase their range.
Since the end of the twelve-day war between Iran and Israel, the Iranian regime has continued deploying ballistic missile launch platforms along its border with Iraq, extending to Ahwaz and the eastern shore of the Gulf.
Al-Kaabi believes that the regime has begun rearranging its cards for confrontation instead of complying with international demands regarding its ballistic missile program.
“A large number of ballistic missile launchers – especially for the Mohammara (Khorramshahr-4) missile – have been deployed along the eastern shore of the Arabian Gulf. Many Emad missile platforms have also been positioned in Iranian Kurdistan, particularly in Kermanshah, Sanandaj, and other cities. According to our sources inside Iran, the country is preparing for a full-scale war,” Al-Kaabi told MBN.
But can Iran really extend its ballistic missile range in a short period despite the existing international sanctions and restrictions?
Israeli researcher Tal Anbar, who specializes in space and strategic missiles, answers this question: “Developing a long-range ballistic missile is not easy – it takes a long time. Therefore, it is unlikely that Iran will possess new missiles anytime soon.” He noted that the range of Khorramshahr missiles is already sufficient to reach parts of Europe.
Anbar added:: “The space programs of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard are, in part, a channel for developing very long-range missiles (4,000–5,000 km). In fact, the Qaem-100 small satellite launch vehicle is a potential candidate to serve as a deterrent missile against Europe.”
Anbar stressed that Iran, following its consistent approach of spreading missile and related technologies, has provided the Houthis in Yemen with some of the most advanced missiles in its arsenal, confirming at the same time that Tehran will not stop pursuing this policy.
Ending Iran’s missile program remains one of the main conditions set by the United States and the West for reaching an agreement with Tehran. But Iran continues to insist on advancing its missile program and building missile cities in rugged mountainous areas that are difficult even to target by air.
At a joint press conference held by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during Rubio’s visit to Israel last September, Rubio said:
“Iran is a nuclear state ruled by an extremist religious leadership, possessing not only potential nuclear weapons but also the missiles capable of delivering those weapons over long distances. It poses an unacceptable threat to the entire world.”
He added that President Trump, for that reason, continues his “maximum pressure” policy, and that economic pressure on Iran will continue until it changes course.
