Has Iran Built Its First ICBM Capable of Reaching the U.S.? Khorramshahr-5 Raises Alarms Globally

Iran may have taken a dramatic step forward in missile technology with reports suggesting it has developed, or is preparing to test, its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) — the Khorramshahr-5. According to a July 27, 2025 report from Mehr News, this new missile reportedly has a range of up to 12,000 kilometers, making it capable of reaching the continental United States from Iranian soil — a leap far beyond Iran’s long-held self-imposed limit of 2,000 kilometers.

If confirmed, Khorramshahr-5 would represent a turning point in Iran’s strategic missile capabilities, placing it among a small group of nations that can strike across continents. The missile is said to reach speeds of Mach 16 (about 20,000 km/h) and carry a warhead weighing around 2 tons — matching or even exceeding the payloads of some U.S. “bunker buster” bombs like the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator.

What’s especially alarming to Western analysts is that no official test of the Khorramshahr-5 has yet been acknowledged by either Iran’s Ministry of Defense or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), raising speculation that the program is being developed in secret — possibly to delay foreign intervention or diplomatic backlash.

What Makes the Khorramshahr-5 Different?

The Khorramshahr-5 is reportedly built on the legacy of the North Korean BM-25 Musudan, itself derived from the Soviet-era R-27 submarine-launched missile. But the jump in performance from the Khorramshahr-4, tested in 2023 with a 2,000 km range, to the Khorramshahr-5's claimed 12,000 km, suggests either an entirely new missile platform or a radical upgrade in propulsion, structure, and guidance.

This missile is believed to use liquid fuel propulsion and is approximately 12 meters long, weighing about 14 to 15 tons at launch. It may incorporate technologies from Iran’s space programs — such as the Soroush-1 and Soroush-2 — which have been designed for heavy payloads and multi-stage launch.

Additionally, Iran’s recent progress with solid-fuel technologies, like the Salman motor with thrust vector control, points toward growing multi-stage and modular capabilities — critical for developing ICBMs that are harder to detect and faster to deploy.

ICBM Characteristics and Strategic Implications

By definition, an ICBM is a missile with a minimum range of 5,500 kilometers, capable of delivering warheads across continents. These missiles usually have multiple stages, travel through space, and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at hypersonic speeds, making them extremely difficult to intercept.

The Khorramshahr-5’s reported Mach 16 speed aligns with terminal-phase speeds of existing ICBMs. Combined with a 2-ton warhead, this capability would allow Iran to threaten targets far beyond the Middle East, including Europe and North America.

Iranian officials have previously stated that the Fattah hypersonic missile series reached speeds of Mach 15, and that a 2-ton hypersonic warhead has been tested. However, these announcements stopped short of connecting that warhead to the Khorramshahr-5.

Why Now? A Strategic Shift in Iranian Policy

Iran has long claimed its missile development is defensive and intentionally capped its range to avoid alarming European nations. But recent military actions — including Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory and U.S. operations targeting Iranian nuclear facilities — appear to have shifted Tehran’s calculus.

Statements from the IRGC and top Iranian military officials now hint at abandoning the 2,000-km limit. Iranian media and leadership increasingly justify extended-range missile development as a deterrent against perceived external aggression, particularly from the U.S. and Israel.

Furthermore, Iran has deepened military cooperation with Russia and China, reportedly conducting joint missile tests with Russian S-400 systems and exploring the purchase of Chinese J-10C fighter jets. These partnerships may also contribute to advancing Iran’s long-range missile technologies.

Uncertainty and Global Reactions

Despite the striking specifications reported for the Khorramshahr-5, no international intelligence agency has confirmed its operational status. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during his July 2025 visit to Washington, reportedly urged the U.S. to push for tighter missile restrictions on Iran — even proposing a maximum 480-kilometer range cap in any future nuclear negotiations.

Iranian state media, meanwhile, continues to present the Khorramshahr-5 as part of a balanced military doctrine — not for aggression, but to ensure retaliatory capability and deterrence. Officials remain tight-lipped about whether the missile has been tested or deployed, which analysts say may be a deliberate strategy to preserve ambiguity, delay sanctions, and complicate foreign surveillance.

Is This Really an ICBM?

While all signs suggest that Iran may be developing its first true ICBM, the lack of test confirmation, technical transparency, or satellite-detected launches leaves room for uncertainty. Some experts caution that the Khorramshahr-5’s capabilities remain theoretical, pending verified flight tests and actual deployment.

However, even the possibility that Iran has crossed the threshold into ICBM development is a major strategic development. It challenges current arms control frameworks, raises regional tensions, and forces a recalibration of U.S. and allied security postures in the Middle East and beyond.

Until more is known, the Khorramshahr-5 remains shrouded in secrecy, but the implications of its potential are already echoing through global defense and intelligence circles.