Politics1 min read

WSJ: Iran still has 1,500-2,500 missiles, influencing US plans for renewed war

By · Via Middle East Eye · Published by Everything Blog

In short

American intelligence assessments indicate that Iran holds an estimated 1,500 to 2,500 missiles, a stockpile size that mirrors Israeli estimates of over 1,500 ballistic weapons. These projections have directly weighed on the Trump administration's evaluations regarding whether to launch renewed strikes. Tehran has reinforced concerns by signaling greater offensive reach, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps dropping its self-imposed 2,000-kilometer range limit. Major General Mostafa Izadi also claimed Iranian forces can deliver two-ton warheads to targets up to 1,500 kilometers away.

Key points

  • Tehran's sizable remaining missile stockpile serves as a critical factor in ongoing Ameri…: Tehran's sizable remaining missile stockpile serves as a critical factor in ongoing American military planning and strike deliberations.
  • The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has formally lifted its previous self-imposed 2,000…: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has formally lifted its previous self-imposed 2,000-kilometer boundary on ballistic missile ranges.
  • Tracking Tehran's weapons accurately remains difficult for foreign intelligence agencies,…: Tracking Tehran's weapons accurately remains difficult for foreign intelligence agencies, resulting in low-confidence assessments of its munitions.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

American intelligence believes that Iran has some 1,500-2,500 missiles, and the apparent size of the arsenal has impacted Trump administration's decision on whether to resume strikes on the Islamic Republic, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials.

The officials told the newspaper that it is a “low confidence assessment” given the difficulties in tracking Tehran’s munitions, but that it was clear that the regime still possessed a large number of missiles.

The report says Israeli officials believe Tehran has over 1,500 ballistic missiles.

On Friday, Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Major General Mostafa Izadi, said Iranian forces were capable of launching missiles equipped with two-ton warheads at targets 1,500 kilometres away.

Last Saturday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it has lifted its self-imposed 2,000km limit on the range of its ballistic missiles.

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