Iran scraps voluntary range restrictions on ballistic missile arsenal

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has formally removed its self-imposed 2,000-kilometre ceiling on the operational range of its ballistic missiles, signalling a potentially wider reach for its military assets amid ongoing conflict.

The shift was confirmed by Revolutionary Guard spokesman Brigadier-General Hossein Mohebbi during a press briefing in Tehran. While Mohebbi declined to state whether the armed forces currently possess weapons surpassing that distance, he indicated that the nation plans to demonstrate its capabilities through operational activity as its armed forces adopt an offensive strategic stance.

The move follows remarks by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who asserted that any actions taken against Iran by the United States or Israel would trigger retaliation unrestricted by territorial boundaries. Khamenei has argued that Tehran must resolve the prolonged friction linked to a US naval blockade on Iranian harbours and unrest across the Strait of Hormuz. The policy shift occurs against the backdrop of broader regional fighting that commenced on February 28, alongside recent mediation efforts involving Washington and Qatar.

Military analysts assess that extending the cap allows Iranian forces to reposition launch systems deeper within eastern Iran while still maintaining the capability to strike regional targets. Even within the previous 2,000-kilometre parameter, Iranian arsenals could span the Arabian Peninsula, parts of North Africa, the Levant, and several southeastern European nations. An expanded perimeter of around 4,000 kilometres would place much of Europe and broader portions of the Indian Ocean within range.

Western governments have repeatedly expressed apprehension over Iranian missile proliferation and potential adaptations of its civilian space hardware for military use. Earlier this year, British authorities claimed Tehran fired towards the joint US-UK installation on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, an assertion Tehran rejected as a fabricated incident. Western intelligence assessments from 2019 had also calculated that modified versions of Iran's Khorramshahr missile could reach roughly 3,000 kilometres.

Tensions have simultaneously escalated over European facilities utilized by American forces. Iranian authorities previously warned Bulgaria against hosting US military aircraft, while recent security concerns prompted American forces to withdraw or redeploy aircraft stationed at British bases, including RAF Fairford and RAF Mildenhall.

Security experts note that while an expanded missile envelope presents a diplomatic and strategic concern for European capitals, defensive networks and long flight trajectories would provide NATO members with significant tracking and interception windows. Analysts warn, however, that directly endangering European territory could undermine diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the broader regional conflict.