Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
YAF: Israeli enemy will pay for this crime.
Yemeni Armed Forces: Son of Major General Al-Ghamari martyred alongside him in Israeli aggression.
Yemeni Armed Forces: YAF mourns martyrdom of Chief of the General Staff Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Palestinian shot and killed by IOF east of Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Occupation forces opened machine gun fire toward outskirts of Aitaroun as locals headed for olive harvest.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone drops bomb at outskirts of town of Blida as people head for olive harvest.
Israeli media: Rafah crossing was not opened as planned, and no date has yet been set for the resumption of movement through it.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro: There will be no change in diplomatic relations with Israel until it complies with the agreements.
Maduro: We say to the people of the United States that we do not want war in the Caribbean or in South America.
Maduro: The sadists in America believe they can issue orders for the world to follow, that they rule while others must adapt. But the first to know this is false are the American people themselves.

Iran only non-nuclear nation to have such ballistic missile capability

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The National Interest
  • 6 Feb 2024 23:51
4 Min Read

Iranian ballistic missiles can reach targets 2,000 kilometers away.

  • x
  • Iran only country to reach ballistic missile capability without nukes
    A cleric walks past Zolfaghar and Dezful missiles displayed at Imam Khomeini mosque in Tehran on January 7, 2022. (AP)

In 2022, General Kenneth McKenzie, Commander of the Central Command (CENTCOM), believed that the Iranian military possessed about 3,000 ballistic missiles of various varieties.

On January 28, the CENTCOM announced that three US soldiers had been killed, while at least 25 had been injured in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border.

In turn, US President Joe Biden had condemned the attack calling it "wholly unjust", reducing the event to the killing of US soldiers and making no mention of their missions overseas or the escalating tensions in the regions.

Biden blamed "radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," likely referring to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which announced earlier they would escalate their attacks after the US conducted several raids in Iraq and assassinated a military official in central Baghdad.

Iran categorically rejected the claims, reiterating over and over again that the Resistance groups across the region act independently. 

However, according to The National Interest, if the US continues escalating tensions in the region, it may get a taste of Iran's "expansive and capable" missiles.

Iranian ballistic missiles can reach targets up to 2,000 kilometers (1,300 miles) distant. It is the only country that has developed such a powerful ballistic missile capacity without possessing nuclear weapons.

Iranian ballistic missiles may attack huge US sites in the region and their arsenal consists of two kinds of missiles, while it is developing a third, forecasted to be the most powerful.

Iran's ballistic missile capabilities are mostly comprised of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), which have a range of less than 500 kilometers (310 miles). The majority are adaptations of the Soviet SCUD tactical ballistic missiles. Tehran has also built its own SRBMs, such as the Shahab-1/2, Qiam, and Fateh-110.

Related News

US commander visits Gaza, rules out US troop deployment to Strip

Al-Sharaa meets US CENTCOM commander, envoy Barrack in Damascus

The Iranian missile arsenal relies heavily on Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs). These missiles have a range of up to 1,300 miles and can hit any target in the Middle East or Eastern Europe.

Tehran has also been for decades developing Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capabilities that could reach Europe and maybe the United States.

In mid-January, "Israel's" Kan TV correspondent commented on Iran's ballistic missile launch that targeted northwestern Syria, saying the missiles "covered a distance of 1,200 km."

Elsewhere, the correspondent noted that this was "an unprecedented event," while Israeli media stated that this was the first time that an Iran-launched missile covered such a great distance, with some saying it mimicked the distance to "Tel Aviv".

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps in Iran announced it targeted "the headquarters of terrorist groups in the region with ballistic missiles." According to the IRGC statement, the attack came in response to "the terrorist crimes recently committed by Iran’s enemies."

"Iran has announced to the world – and specifically to Israel – that it’s willing to enter the fray itself when pushed," Bloomberg highlighted in one of its reports at the time.

Kheibar-Shekan

The weapon in question is the Kheibar-Shekan, a precise-guided ballistic missile that can reportedly be maneuvered during the re-entry phase. Several missiles were used in what marked the IRGC's longest-range missile attack.

Specifications, including its ability to maneuver during re-entry or the final stage, are what award the Kheibar-Shekan missile the ability to evade air defense systems, accurately hitting ground targets.

"It’s probably the most sophisticated missile they have with the range to strike Israel," Fabian Hinz, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank, told Bloomberg.

Hinz's remarks shed light on the strides that the Iranian missile program has taken forward in recent years, however, the expert failed to take note of several other missiles, including the Fattah family of missiles. The Fattah 1 and Fattah 2 missiles both garner hypersonic capabilities, are more highly maneuverable, and have bypassed the 1,400 km range.

#Iran recently unveiled its first hypersonic ballistic missile, named Fattah, which is capable of bypassing advanced air defense systems.
Here's what you need to know about the highly-developed missile. pic.twitter.com/8IF1tKyYtW

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 6, 2023

  • Iran
  • Iranian missiles
  • CENTCOM
  • United States
  • US troops in Iraq
  • US troops in Syria

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Members of the media wait for Palestinian prisoners and injured at the Rafah border crossing in Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Rafah crossing to reopen for travelers from Gaza: Reuters

US President Donald Trump speaks during an event in the Oval Office at the White House, Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

'Israel' may resume Gaza war if Hamas breaches ceasefire, Trump says

Mourners attend the funeral of slain captive Captain Daniel Peretz at Mt. Herzl military cemetery in occupied al-Quds, Wednesday, October 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam Brigades hand over all living Israeli captives

Armored vehicles drive through a street during a government-organized march in support of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US approves covert CIA action in Venezuela: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS