Tehran, Iran – : Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has removed its long-standing, self-imposed 2,000-kilometre limit on ballistic missile ranges, opening the possibility of developing longer-range weapons amid rising regional tensions.
IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi confirmed the policy change during a press conference in Tehran on November 7. Asked about the previous restriction, he said, “That restriction has been lifted for us.” He added that Iran would demonstrate its capabilities in practice rather than through public statements.
The announcement followed a warning by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who directed the armed forces to respond to threats from the United States and Israel without geographical limitations.
Iran's Missile Range Policy
The 2,000-kilometre restriction was publicly disclosed in 2017 by then-IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari, who said it had been set by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Even under the previous limit, Iranian missiles could reach the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, most of Egypt and parts of Europe, including Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia.
Questions Over Longer-Range Capabilities
Iran has not publicly demonstrated an operational ballistic missile with a verified range beyond 2,000 kilometres. However, US officials have previously warned that technology from Iran's space programme could potentially support the development of longer-range weapons, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
In March 2026, reports emerged of an attempted Iranian missile strike against the joint US-UK military base at Diego Garcia, approximately 4,000 kilometres from Iran. According to those reports, two missiles were involved. One failed during flight, while the other was intercepted. Iran has not confirmed the incident.
Mohebbi described Iran's strategy as asymmetric warfare, saying the country could strike locations its adversaries might not expect. He also referred to underground missile facilities designed to support continued weapons production during attacks.
The IRGC further highlighted Iran's domestic production of solid-fuel missiles and drones, reducing its dependence on foreign suppliers.
The policy change removes a political restriction on Iran's future missile development. However, its actual capability to produce and deploy ballistic missiles beyond the previous 2,000-kilometre limit remains unverified.
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