Iran targets Diego Garcia: Does Tehran have missiles beyond 2,500 miles? A realistic breakdown

Iran’s reported attempt to target Diego Garcia, a remote U.S.-U.K. military base far away in the Indian Ocean from the Iranian shoreline, has reignited questions over the true reach of Iran's missile program, particularly whether it possesses weapons capable of striking beyond 2,500 miles (4,000 km).

According to US officials cited by The Wall Street Journal, Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward the US base Diego Garcia, more than 2500 miles away from Tehran. One reportedly failed mid-flight, while a US warship fired an SM-3 interceptor at the other, though it remains unclear whether the interception succeeded.

Also Read: Iran fires ballistic missiles toward US base Diego Garcia, 2,500 miles away in the Indian Ocean

US-Iran war

The reported Iranian attack on US base Diego Garcia comes at a time when tensions are high after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on March 28, triggering a wider regional conflict involving neighboring countries like the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. US President Donald Trump said the operation would end a nuclear security threat to the United States and offer Iranians a chance to topple their rulers.

Since then, Iranian missiles and drones have targeted energy facilities and other sites across the Gulf region, including Israel, as the Iran war rages on.

Iran’s missile range: Official claim vs reported reach

Iran has long maintained that it limits its missile range to 2,000 km (1,250 miles). Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated this in an India Today's interview was last month, stating the country does not seek to become a global threat.

However, the reported targeting of a base roughly 2,500 miles away has raised doubts, as missile range can vary significantly depending on payload, trajectory, and launch conditions.

Iran’s known missile arsenal

Iran is believed to hold the largest stockpile of ballistic missiles in the Middle East, according to a 2024 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) shows most of Iran’s operational missiles fall within the 1,300–2,000 km (800–1,240 miles) range. These include:

• Sejil – 2,000 km (1,240 miles)
  
• Emad – 1,700 km (1,056 miles)
  
• Ghadr – 2,000 km (1,240 miles)
  
• Shahab-3 – 1,300 km (800 miles)
  
• Khorramshahr – 2,000 km (1,240 miles)
  

A 2025 factsheet by the Arms Control Association similarly places most systems below or around 2,000 km (1,240 miles), with some under development.

As per the outlet Missile Threat, Iran's cruise missile Soumar has a ‘presumed’ range of 2,000–3,000 km (1,240–1,860 miles) and is considered operational.

Iranian media has also highlighted missiles like the Sejil, which can reportedly travel at speeds exceeding 17,000 km/h and reach up to 2,500 km (1,550 miles).

The semi-official Iranian news outlet ISNA published a graphic in April 2025 showing nine Iranian missiles it said could reach Israel, including the Sejil.

Does Iran have missiles beyond 2,500 miles?

There is no confirmed evidence that Iran currently deploys operational missiles exceeding 2,500 miles (4,000 km), but some reports suggest ambitions in that direction.

According to Arabic-language outlet Alhurra:

• The Sejjil series is being developed to potentially reach 4,000 km (2,485 miles)
  
• The Khorramshahr (Kheibar) missile is also being upgraded toward a similar range
  
• Shahab-5 could exceed 5,000 km (3,106 miles), while Shahab-6, still under testing, may reach up to 10,000 km (6,200 miles)
  

Most of these systems, however, are either under development or not independently verified at those ranges.