Iran has abandoned its self-imposed restriction capping ballistic missile ranges at 2,000 kilometres, or 1,200 miles. The announcement on Tuesday suggests Tehran could now pursue the development of projectiles capable of reaching far more distant targets.
The policy shift was disclosed by a spokesman for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard during a news conference in Tehran. Gen. Hossein Mohebbi addressed reporters regarding the previous ceiling on missile capabilities. Asked about the restriction, Gen. Mohebbi stated, "That restriction has been lifted for us."
The announcement arrives amid climbing fears of a renewed all-out war in the region. Tensions have intensified following recent warnings from Iran’s supreme leader. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khomeini warned publicly that any threat from the United States or Israel, regardless of its kind or level, would face a response unbounded by geography.
While officials in Tehran made the declaration regarding the cap, Iran is not currently known to possess operational missiles exceeding the previous 2,000-kilometre threshold. American authorities have previously raised concerns about Iran’s aerospace sector. US officials have noted that technology developed for the country’s space program could potentially be repurposed to construct intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The official announcement from the Revolutionary Guard comes as diplomatic and military friction persists between Tehran and Western nations. Military analysts and regional observers are closely monitoring the developments as the rhetoric between Iran, Israel, and the United States continues to escalate.
