Iran fields the largest and most varied missile force in the Middle East — an arsenal developed over decades under international sanctions and now being deployed in the most significant test of its capabilities since the Islamic Revolution. As the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its third week, understanding the scope and nature of Iran’s weapons systems is essential to assessing the conflict’s trajectory.
Short-Range Systems (150-800km)
Iran’s short-range missile inventory forms the backbone of its regional deterrence and is the most extensively used category in the current conflict.
Fateh Variants: The Fateh (“Conqueror”) family includes multiple iterations of solid-fuel, road-mobile ballistic missiles with ranges of approximately 300-500km. Their solid-fuel design allows for rapid launch preparation, making them difficult to target preemptively. Fateh variants have been fired extensively at Gulf states hosting US military facilities.
Zolfaghar: With an estimated range of 700km, the Zolfaghar represents an improvement over basic Fateh models, featuring a maneuverable warhead designed to evade missile defense systems. It can reach targets across the Persian Gulf and into Saudi Arabia.
Qiam-1: A liquid-fueled short-range ballistic missile derived from the Shahab-1 platform, the Qiam-1 has been used in several Iranian retaliatory strikes since 2017. Its distinguishing feature is the absence of stabilization fins, reducing its radar cross-section.
Shahab-1 and Shahab-2: Based on North Korean and Soviet-era Scud technology, these older liquid-fueled missiles represent the foundational layer of Iran’s arsenal. While less sophisticated than newer systems, they remain operational and contribute to Iran’s saturation tactics.
Medium-Range Systems (1,500-2,000km)
Medium-range ballistic missiles give Iran the ability to strike Israel, US bases across the region, and targets throughout the Gulf.
Shahab-3: Iran’s first medium-range ballistic missile, with a range of approximately 1,500km. Based on North Korean Nodong technology, the Shahab-3 can carry a warhead of approximately 750-1,000kg. It has been in service since the early 2000s.
Emad: An upgraded version of the Shahab-3 with improved guidance systems, the Emad is described as Iran’s first precision-guided ballistic missile. Its accuracy reportedly improves significantly on the Shahab-3’s circular error probable.
Ghadr-1: Another Shahab-3 derivative with extended range and improved accuracy, the Ghadr-1 features a redesigned reentry vehicle and has been displayed in multiple Iranian military parades.
Khorramshahr: A medium-range missile capable of carrying multiple warheads, the Khorramshahr has been a particular concern for Western intelligence agencies due to its potential MIRV (multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle) capability, though this remains unconfirmed.
Sejjil: Perhaps Iran’s most significant medium-range missile, the Sejjil is a two-stage solid-fuel ballistic missile with a range of approximately 2,000km. Its solid-fuel design gives it a critical advantage: faster launch preparation and reduced vulnerability to preemptive strikes compared to liquid-fueled alternatives.
Kheibar Shekan and Haj Qassem: Newer systems reportedly featuring hypersonic or quasi-ballistic trajectories designed to defeat missile defense systems. These missiles represent the cutting edge of Iranian ballistic missile development.
Long-Range Capability (2,000-2,500km)
Iran’s longest-range systems can reach Israel and military installations throughout the Gulf region. However, no Iranian missile currently in service can reach the continental United States — a geographic limitation that defines the strategic parameters of the conflict.
The maximum demonstrated range of approximately 2,500km places all of Israel, all Gulf states, parts of southeastern Europe, and US bases in the region within reach.
The Shahed Drone Fleet
Alongside its ballistic missile arsenal, Iran has developed an extensive fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles, with the Shahed series being the most prominent.
Shahed drones have been a key weapon in the current conflict, used in sustained attacks on Gulf states and Israeli positions. Their low cost relative to ballistic missiles allows Iran to deploy them in large numbers, contributing to saturation tactics designed to overwhelm air defense systems.
The Shahed program gained international notoriety through Russia’s use of Iranian-supplied drones against Ukraine beginning in 2022 — a connection that has added a layer of irony to the current conflict, as the same drone design is now being used against US allies in the Gulf.
What Makes This War Different
This conflict differs fundamentally from Iran’s limited June 2025 exchange with Israel. In that engagement, Iran fired a calculated barrage designed more as a demonstration of capability than a full military commitment.
The February 2026 war is different. With Supreme Leader Khamenei killed in the opening strike, Iran’s leadership views this as an existential conflict. The full breadth of the arsenal is being deployed — not as a signal, but as a weapon of war.
A former French intelligence director noted that Iranian missiles appeared more accurate in this conflict than in the June 2025 engagement, raising the possibility that Iran may be using China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system for targeting — a 45-satellite constellation that the US cannot jam, unlike GPS.
The Saturation Problem
Iran’s strategy relies on volume. By launching combined barrages of ballistic missiles and drones, the IRGC aims to saturate enemy air defenses — forcing systems like the Patriot to engage more targets than they can handle simultaneously. Despite significant interceptions by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel, several missiles have breached defenses, causing significant damage and casualties.
As the war continues, the question is not whether Iran has enough weapons — its arsenal is vast — but whether sustained US-Israeli strikes can degrade production and launch capabilities faster than the IRGC can use them.