Iran's Ballistic Missile Programme
Strategic Context
Iran possesses one of the largest and most diversified ballistic missile arsenals in the Middle East, developed indigenously after sanctions cut off conventional arms imports. Iran's missile programme includes short-range (SRBM), medium-range (MRBM), and intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBM). Iran has stated it voluntarily capped its missile range below 2,000 km, though analysts question the strategic rationale for this self-imposed limit.
- Iran's missile range: Short-range (Fateh series, 300-500 km), medium-range (Shahab-3, ~2,000 km; Ghadr-110, ~1,950 km), intermediate range (Khorramshahr, ~2,000+ km)
- Missiles can reach Israel (~1,000 km from Iran), US bases in the Gulf, and parts of Europe
- UN restrictions: UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015, JCPOA endorsement) called upon Iran "not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons" — this language is a "call upon" (non-binding) rather than a prohibition
- MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime): An informal export control arrangement limiting transfer of missile technology; Iran is NOT a member and has been a target of MTCR enforcement by member states
- Iran's Shahed drones: Supplied to Russia for use in Ukraine, demonstrating the dual-use nature of Iran's missile/drone programme; drones are not covered by the JCPOA framework
● Tracked since February 25, 2026 · last seen March 21, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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